Kehl on the Rhine: Bridges, Park and City History
Accommodation in Kehl
Kehl lies on the Rhine. Together with Strasbourg, the town has grown into a cross-border living space with shared infrastructure. This includes the Passerelle des Deux Rives, the Garden of the Two Banks, the tram bridge and the tram. Three clear themes therefore shape the town as you plan your trip: the Rhine, the connections between the German and French sides, and Kehl’s city history. If you are looking for a hotel in Kehl, you can match these different points of interest to your own plans for your stay.
Bridges, Park and Connections Across the Rhine
The Passerelle des Deux Rives connects the German and French banks of the Rhine and is open to pedestrians and cyclists. Its viewing platform is above the Rhine. The Beatus-Rhenanus Bridge is also open to pedestrians and cyclists. Tram line D from Strasbourg crosses the Rhine to Kehl and serves three stops there. Check the current route and stops before your trip.
The Garden of the Two Banks is a publicly accessible, cross-border park with more than 50 hectares of gardens and parkland on both sides of the Rhine. The park and bridges are part of the cross-border living space shared by Kehl and Strasbourg.
Views and Water Outdoors
At WeiĂźtannenturm, 210 steps lead to a platform 35 metres above the ground. From the upper platform, the view stretches across Kehl and Strasbourg towards the Black Forest and the Vosges. Further maintenance work is planned after the reopening, so check access before your visit.
The Rhine floodplain features a water-treading area, Kneipp arm baths and the R(h)einlabyrinth, which is 17 metres in diameter. The water playground offers a different kind of water experience: it recreates the Rhine’s former natural course with a water channel, fountains, pools and play equipment. It is open seasonally.
Buildings and Remembrance
Kehl was founded as a military outpost before Strasbourg. The Lange Bruck, a Rhine crossing, has existed since the 14th century. In the town centre, the Weinbrennerhaus, built in 1816, is considered the oldest house. St. Johannes Nepomuk was built between 1911 and 1914 to a design by Johannes Schroth.
Villa Schmidt is another prominent building: it is a listed example of an elaborately designed upper-middle-class residence from the early 20th century. The Mother Kinzig sculpture is part of a monument to those killed in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. Together, these places show different aspects of Kehl’s architectural and commemorative history, from a house dating to 1816 to buildings from the early 20th century.
Ortenaukreis in a Wider Context
The wider travel destination of Ortenaukreis lies in a landscape between the Rhine and the Black Forest. The district has 23 nature reserves covering a total of around 3,110 hectares. They extend from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. This regional perspective adds a wider landscape context to the view of Kehl as a town.
Discover more destinations: Kork, Oppenau, Lahr/Schwarzwald, Kappel-Grafenhausen, Oberharmersbach, Mahlberg, Kippenheim, Rheinau
For the wider travel overview: Ortenaukreis.
