Bad Imnau: Historical Heritage and the Eyach Valley Circular Trail

Bad Imnau combines a historic ensemble with a church, a recurring carnival tradition, and the Eyach Valley Circular Trail. If you are planning a stay, these different highlights can help you decide which aspects of the town are of particular interest to you.

The historic Stahlbad ensemble

The historic Stahlbad Imnau ensemble includes the Fürstenbau, dated 1733, the Kursaal, built in 1868 to plans by Professor Wilhelm Bäumer, and the Josefshaus, which dates from the 18th century. The spa park is also part of the ensemble; its original layout also dates from the 18th century. Its features include the Casparquell Pavilion and the Lourdes Grotto. A stone crucifix was dated 1936 by J. Walz to mark the 200th anniversary of the spa. Streetlamps dating from around 1900 add to the park’s character.

The dates point to several distinct periods: the Fürstenbau is dated 1733, the Kursaal was built more than a century later, and the original layout of the spa park dates back to the 18th century. Those interested in architectural and local history will find more here than a single building. The buildings, park, and individual features together form part of the historic Stahlbad Imnau theme.

The church and the Rose Monday tradition

The Catholic parish church of St. James dates from 1779/83. Its nave was extended to the west in 1934. The two construction phases offer a concrete glimpse into the development of the church building: the late 18th-century construction was followed by the 20th-century extension.

The “Emnauer Omzigle” reflects a different aspect of local history. The parade has made its way through Bad Imnau on Rose Monday since 2015. As the date varies from year to year in the carnival calendar, it is worth checking the date for the relevant year before planning a trip. The church and the parade appeal to different visitor interests: one is a permanent building, the other a recurring tradition with a changing date.

Eyach Valley Circular Trail and footbath

The Eyach Valley Circular Trail runs from Haigerloch via Trillfingen and Bad Imnau, following the edge of the Eyach valley for part of the way. An alternative route starts at Quellenstraße in Bad Imnau. After a few hundred metres, you reach a footbath in the Laibetal valley. This distinguishes two parts of the route description: the circular trail through several towns and the specific alternative from Quellenstraße, with its destination in the Laibetal valley.

When planning, you can consider whether you would like to explore the circular trail through several towns or the described alternative starting in Bad Imnau. No walking time or difficulty level is provided for these sections, so do not plan around a specific duration. The named places and the route along the edge of the valley do, however, give a concrete idea of the landscape and waypoints associated with the Eyach Valley.

Culture in the wider Haigerloch destination

The wider Haigerloch destination offers other distinct cultural attractions. The former Haigerloch Synagogue was built in 1783 in the centre of the Jewish quarter. The exhibition at the House of History of Baden-Württemberg in the former synagogue follows the traces of Jewish life that has disappeared. The Atomkeller Museum is located in Haigerloch at the site of the world’s first nuclear reactor; it is housed in a rock directly beneath the castle church. The two sites offer different historical perspectives: Jewish life in Haigerloch on the one hand, and the history of the first nuclear reactor site on the other.

The art of Karl Hurm is also connected with Haigerloch. He lived and painted for 89 years in the district of Weildorf; his extensive body of work is deeply rooted in the Haigerloch area and the region’s Alb landscape. The Karl Hurm Art Museum displays a cross-section of his work and offers the opportunity to compare paintings and landscape, as well as dreams and reality, on site. For those interested in architecture, the pilgrimage church of St. Anna is another cultural attraction in Haigerloch: the well-known Baroque-Rococo church was created by Haigerloch master builder Christian Großbayer, with the participation of the young sculptor Johann Georg Weckenmann and court painter Meinrad von Au of Sigmaringen.

Those who prefer a walk to individual cultural sites can take the historic walk through Haigerloch, an easy circular route of 2.31 kilometres that takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. It visits 15 places of historical interest. As route measurements may be updated, check the current details if you are planning around this distance or duration.

Select Bad Imnau as your search destination and compare the details of the available hotel offers for your trip.

To the wider travel overview: Haigerloch.