> Experience Gernsbach | Sights

Worth a visit

Gernsbach has a lot to offer. You discover interesting history in the old part of the town. We invite you on a round trip through the old part of our town. You get a historic overview in our town chronicle.

Also you can discover a lot more.

Nature reserve Lautenfelsen

Above Lautenbach, a part of Gernsbach, are the impressive rocks called „Lautenfelsen“. You can see them, as they appear through the dense woods. Witness the unspoiled nature in this unique landscape with its woods, streams and its special fauna and flora. On your way up to the „Lautenfelsen“ you see the around 300 years-old weather-beaten granite rocks. Above them new red sandstone rocks, which were set down on the floor of the primeval sea. When the Upper Rhine Valley broke off more than 100 meters, the granite rocks reappeared.

The legend says, that the devil threw the granite rocks with rage down the „Teufelsmühle“ (a nearby mountain). These granite rocks, covered with moss and fern built up a substrate, that filters the dust from the air.

This is one of the reasons because the area around the „Lautenfelsen“ is a nature reserve. There you can watch also seldom found animal species. After climbing up the natural steps to the Lautenfelsen the hiker will have an impressive view on Lautenbach and the whole Murg Valley. If there is good visibility you can see the Rhine Valley and Vosges Mountains (France, Alsace). Not far from here is Lautenbach, where are enough restaurants and accommodations.

Gernsbach Legend Trail

Really legendary. Allow free imagination and follow the little devil (sign) to the legends round the „Gernsberg“. You will be enchanted by beautiful stories.

You start at the „Klingelkapelle“ and you walk up the Tree Trail with its exotic plants and lots of views till you get to “Eberstein” Castle. There on the plane tree terrace you enjoy a fantastic view on the Murg Valley. Inside the “Eberstein” Castle is the restaurant “Schloss-Schänke” with its gothic hall. There you can order home cooking specialities. Then you go to „Müllenbild“ next to the restaurant „Nachtigall“ where you strengthen yourself while eating „Eberstein-Teller“.Starting here you walk uphill to „Kohlplättel“ and then you walk downhill back to Gernsbach. Don’t miss a visit to the historic part of Gernsbach. The day comes to an end with a glass of wine in the old town hall, where you’ll find a wine cellar of the winery Iselin.

On the above described 13 km long hiking-tour you overcome 450 meters altitude. Also untrained hikers can make it. If you want to walk the whole course please allow a whole day. The time you need just for walking is 3,5 – 4 hours.

Further information: http://www.sagenweg.de

«Arboretum Eberstein Castle» Teaching Trail for trees

About 200 years ago, people named the “Murg” Valley Switzerland of “Baden”. In the middle part of the valley near Gernsbach you will find the transition from the wildly romantic mountain torrent to an orchard and wine-growing area with chestnut trees. This area offers a lot for the nature-loving people and hikers.

“Eberstein” Castle, posing on an impressive granite rock, lends the landscape its character. The castle is the distinctive point in the landscape, around it a lot of good and signed hiking trails. Here you find narrow shady hiking trails, sunny hills where people grow wine, old chestnut woods and unique views from rock pulpits. You have a lot of highlights in our area.

The “Arboretum Eberstein Castle” is a unique collection of interesting and seldom woods. With over 300 different home and exotic tree species the forest around the castle is a really jewel, not only for experts.

In earlier times, the Earls of Baden (Großherzöge von Baden) lived here in summertime; the trees were already old and valuable. From 1964 to 1990 the population was extended and new trees were planted. Thanks to Rudolf Koch, the manager of the Duke of Baden’s grounds, the interests of the hikers and visitors were always considered. The trees were planted considering their genus and their family. They were planted along the hiking trails so people could compare them easily.

You can walk this tour, “Arboretum Eberstein Castle”, as a roundtrip within 2 hours.
You can start at “Klingelkapelle”, or Eberstein Castle” or “Obersrot”. You can enjoy charming landscape for example
- the “Grafensprung” on the “Husteinfelsen” with its unique view down the valley or
- -the “Engelskanzel” (pulpit for angels) or
- the “Luisenruhe”
- the “Erzgrunbe” (vein of ore)
- the “Schänzele”with its gorgeous panoramic view over the newly planted vineyard.
Trees are king of the plants. because of their size, height, long life and their importance for nature and their exceptional position.

Please download the actual brochure of the „Arboretum“ in our download centre.

Valleys of hay huts

A speciality of the “Murg” Valley is the Tyrol hay huts. About 250 years ago because of the narrowness of the “Murg” Valley, great efforts were made to root out the woods in these steep side valleys. The meadows were used as hay meadows because they were too steep for grazing and too moist. Tyrol immigrants brought with them the knowledge to build these wooden hay huts. In these hay huts the people stored their hay. In wintertime they took their hay home by sleigh or with a wooden basket on their back.