Discover Gengenbach: Old Town, Fasend Carnival and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Gengenbach
Gengenbach combines a heritage-protected town centre with the Fasend carnival tradition and a wide range of ways to spend active days. In the historic Old Town, towers and gates, narrow lanes, the market-square fountain and numerous half-timbered houses form part of the townscape. The entire town centre has been protected as a historic monument since 1955. When looking for a holiday apartment, your planned trip focus can be a good starting point: would you mainly like to discover the town’s history, go hiking and cycling, or combine different experiences?
Old Town, Fasend Carnival and Advent
Housed in the Niggelturm, the Fool’s Museum spans seven floors and explores Gengenbach’s Fasend carnival and its history. A visit offers a closer look at this local tradition. Together with the half-timbered houses, gates and lanes, the Old Town offers various ways to explore Gengenbach’s history and townscape.
A special seasonal tradition comes to life during Advent: since 1996, the town hall, with its 24 windows, has been transformed into what is described as the world’s largest Advent calendar house. If you are planning your trip for this time of year, it makes for a distinctive cultural highlight in the town’s annual calendar. Advent offers a different way to experience Gengenbach than visiting the Fool’s Museum or taking a town tour.
Guided tours of the historic Old Town, museum tours and themed tours with wine tastings can be booked in Gengenbach. The GengenBahn is another way to explore: its circular tour takes you through Gengenbach, past historic sights, half-timbered houses, winding lanes and idyllic countryside. You can choose between a guided exploration of the town and a sightseeing tour by train.
Hiking, cycling and taking on the elevation
Those who want to explore the surrounding area on foot will find routes around Gengenbach on the Kandelhöhenweg, the Jakobusweg, the Querweg and numerous circular trails in the Gengenbach area. One specific option is the “Himmel & Hölle” (Heaven & Hell) premium trail: this moderately difficult circular hike is 17.2 kilometres long, takes 5:45 hours and involves 676 metres of ascent and 677 metres of descent. The route starts and finishes in Gengenbach’s Old Town. Its distance, duration and elevation gain provide clear points of reference to help you fit this hiking day into your travel plans.
The Moosgebirge mountains near Gengenbach also offer an opportunity to experience the landscape through sport. They reach almost 900 metres in elevation; hikers and mountain bikers have more than 700 metres of elevation gain to tackle. Cycling routes from Gengenbach also lead into the side valleys and the Rhine Valley plain. This gives you a choice of different active pursuits: a designated circular hike, other trails around town, or cycling routes into the side valleys and the plain.
Another destination for a range of day-trip ideas
The “Die Insel” leisure pool is at Grünstraße 65 in Gengenbach and has six pools. These include a giant water slide, a lazy river, a 50-metre lap pool and a children’s or paddling pool. This specific selection adds a swimming option with a variety of pools and water attractions to the cultural and outdoor experiences.
Whether you would like to focus your trip mainly on the Old Town and Fasend carnival, longer hikes, or cycling and a visit to the leisure pool, the experiences described offer different ways to shape your stay. Tailor your search for a holiday apartment or holiday home to the activities that matter to you.
Other places: Schwanau, Kappel-Grafenhausen, Zell Am Harmersbach, Seelbach, Oberkirch, Schutterwald, Oberwolfach, Oberharmersbach.
For the higher-level travel overview: Ortenau District.
