Obertshausen: Local History and Nature
Accommodation in Obertshausen
Among Obertshausen’s notable features are Burg im Hain, the history trail and the Hengster nature reserve. The local history museum and the Herz-Jesu Basilica are also historical points of interest. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you are particularly interested in archaeological remains, local history, church history or a former moorland landscape.
Burg im Hain: Early Settlement Traces
Only a few chunks of stone and wall remains have survived from Burg im Hain. The castle wall, about 2.20 metres wide, enclosed an area measuring 28 by 31 metres. A water-filled moat ran in front of it, and a tower stood in the middle of the complex. The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1576. The remains of Burg im Hain are considered Obertshausen’s oldest surviving settlement remains. This places the dimensions of the former complex alongside a clear historical date.
Local History in the Townscape and Museum
The Obertshausen history trail is intended to make local history tangible in the townscape. Several stops feature information boards, and a QR code at each location links to further information on the website. The trail thus combines on-site boards with digital additions. Unlike the castle, of which only a few structural remains have survived, it presents history across several stops.
The Obertshausen local history museum is housed in the “Karl-Mayer-Haus” workshop museum at Karl-Mayer-Straße 10. One permanent exhibition room is devoted to the Hengster, which is described there as Germany’s oldest nature reserve. Check the museum’s opening hours before your visit. Since 2018, the Herz-Jesu Basilica in Obertshausen has also been a pilgrimage church. If religious sites are relevant to your plans, this status adds a religious aspect to the themes of local history and nature.
Hengster: Nature and Its Moorland Past
The Hengster nature reserve covers 8.3 hectares and lies within the Obertshausen municipal district. It is a remnant of a former moorland landscape. Its stated area and moorland past give the nature theme two different aspects: a specific size and a historical landscape classification. In comparison, Hengster differs from the structural remains of Burg im Hain. If you would like to include nature and local history in your trip planning, this contrast offers a useful point of reference.
More Themes in the Broader Offenbach Destination
The broader Offenbach destination offers additional, distinct routes and cultural themes. In the Offenbach district, the MainRadweg passes through Mainhausen, Seligenstadt, Hainburg and MĂĽhlheim along the Hessian Lower Main. It follows the Main from its sources to its mouth through Franconian and Hessian landscapes. The route runs away from heavy traffic and is exceptionally well signposted.
The Regionalpark circular route covers a total of 190 kilometres. It connects orchards and wetland biotopes with artworks, historical landmarks, viewpoints and play areas. You can explore sections on foot or by bicycle. Nature, culture and exercise are therefore all part of this route’s character in the broader Offenbach destination.
The Egelsbach Evolution Trail is a different kind of route: this educational trail is 1.1 kilometres long and passes 19 signs about significant developments and events in evolution. It starts directly opposite the entrance to Egelsbach Airfield; one section overlaps with the Rhein-Main Regional Park Route. The two routes thus differ both in length and subject: the Regionalpark circular route brings together a variety of landscape and cultural themes, while the Evolution Trail focuses on evolution.
Discover more destinations: Langen, Mainhausen, MĂĽhlheim Am Main, Dietzenbach, Offenbach Am Main, Dudenhofen, Dreieich, Seligenstadt
Back to the broader travel overview: Offenbach.
