Rastatt: Baroque History and Hotels
Accommodation in Rastatt
Rastatt and the surrounding region combine baroque buildings and museums with attractions for active days. To plan your trip, you can start by choosing a focus: residential history and historical exhibitions, outdoor activities or regional produce. The options range from a bobsled run and winter sports to a fish ladder with a visitor room.
Baroque Residences and History
Rastatt Palace was the first baroque residence built on German soil and was designed after the Palace of Versailles. Across from the residential palace is the Rastatt City Museum, housed in a baroque town palace. Its permanent exhibitions cover Rastatt’s history over the past 300 years, as well as prehistoric and early history. Its location and exhibits make the museum a concrete addition if you are interested in the city’s development and its earlier history.
Favorite Palace in Rastatt-Förch is also part of the region’s historical attractions: it is the oldest and only German porcelain palace preserved in its original form. Eberstein Castle in Gernsbach was built in 1272; it stands high above the town and is a popular destination. The two palaces represent different historical points of interest in the region: Favorite is distinguished by its special architectural and preservation history, while Eberstein is notable for its founding year and its position above Gernsbach.
The Memorial Site for the Freedom Movements in German History presents milestones in the development of liberty and democratic traditions from the early modern period to the present day. Exhibits, models, pictures, caricatures and contemporary texts illustrate the revolutionary struggle of men and women across Germany in 1848/49, which ended with the fall of Rastatt Fortress. This broadens the historical focus from the history of the royal residence to the democratic movements of the 19th century.
Activities and Attractions
The bobsled run at the Mehliskopf leisure and sports center has a 1,000-meter descent. Its features include four steep forest bends, seven steep meadow bends and eight water crossings.
The Murgtal/Bühlertal winter sports area in Rastatt district offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and snowboarding. It also has ten ski lifts and a 110-kilometer network of cross-country ski trails. The selection includes a range of winter sports; the figures given describe the area’s lifts and trail network.
At the Iffezheim barrage, the fish ladder has a visitor room. From there, you can watch fish swim in stages through the fish passage. This is a different kind of destination from the historic sites: the focus here is on observing fish migrating upstream.
Cycling, Views and Regional Produce
The PAMINA Cycle Route can once again be used along its original route through the districts of Rastatt, Steinmauern, Elchesheim-Illingen and Au am Rhein. Check the trail conditions before setting out.
The tower of Windeck Castle can be climbed from April to October, from 9 a.m. until nightfall. During the winter months, the climb is possible in good weather. As access depends on the season and weather, check conditions before your visit.
On the farm shop tour, more than 15 direct marketers offer meat from their own livestock, freshly baked farmhouse bread, and seasonal fruit and vegetables from the region. These include BĂĽhler plums and Baden asparagus. The produce mentioned gives a concrete impression of the regional selection; the fruit and vegetables on offer are seasonal.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Forbach, BĂĽhlertal, Weisenbach, Rastatt, Ă–tigheim, Muggensturm, Moos, Lautenbach, Iffezheim, Gernsbach, RheinmĂĽnster, BĂĽhl, Lichtenau, HĂĽgelsheim, Sinzheim, Durmersheim, Kuppenheim, Gaggenau, Steinmauern, Loffenau, Ottersweier.
To the main travel overview: Baden-WĂĽrttemberg.
