Visitors choosing Loffenau as a destination will find a range of highlights: local history, scenic viewpoints, geological formations and trails with clearly identifiable landmarks. The municipality is located in the Black Forest Central/North Nature Park. When planning your visit, you can first consider whether you are more interested in the history of the town or its landscape.
Traces of Local History
The late medieval frescoes in the Holy Cross Church come from Loffenau’s old church. Only the choir of that building remains; it forms the lower part of today’s tower. The frescoes and tower therefore offer tangible traces of the history of the former church building.
The new village square in the Kirchwiesen is another highlight: it is award-winning and blends into the townscape. The observatory on the Grenzertplatte was officially inaugurated on 4 October 2008. This date provides a clear point of reference alongside the late medieval art and the church’s earlier architectural history.
Views and Landscape Features
The Sonnenlaube on Pfarrberg is a viewpoint that offers both a view and shade. East of Loffenau, not far from GroĂźen Loch, are the Teufelskammern. These cave-like erosional formations belong to the Eck Formation of the Lower Buntsandstein. They formed when softer sandstone eroded beneath a harder, silicified Buntsandstein layer. The harder layer forms the roof of the formations.
The elevations on TeufelsmĂĽhle also provide a clear point of reference: two hang-gliding launch sites operate there. The western site is at 900 metres, and the northwestern one at 846 metres. This means the western launch site is 54 metres higher than the northwestern one; the sites also differ in location.
Trails and Water
The Laufbach Waterfalls can be visited as part of the Kleine Dorfrunde (Little Village Loop). A bridge with a viewing platform and a new staircase provide access for visitors. Trails by the waterfalls can be slippery in certain weather conditions, so sure-footedness is required. Check local conditions before your visit.
The following landmarks are useful for navigating other trails: The Panoramarunde (Panorama Loop) starts at the Kurpark and follows DorfstraĂźe for a short distance to Kreuzstich, then continues towards the Bergle viewpoint. To reach MichelsrankhĂĽtte, head from the area behind the TeufelsmĂĽhlturm along the Zick-Zack-Pfad (Zigzag Trail). The route descends by about 100 metres. These landmarks and the approximate change in elevation give you concrete reference points for planning, without specifying a walking time.
The foot-washing station in the Löchle/Holzwiesen area was set up around 50 years ago and is still used by children and local residents as a recreational facility. It is another kind of place to visit, in addition to the viewpoints and trails described above.
More Cultural Highlights in the Wider Destination of Rastatt
The wider destination of Rastatt offers further historical highlights. Rastatt Palace was the first Baroque residence built on German soil and was designed on the model of Versailles. The Rastatt City Museum is housed in a Baroque town palace opposite the residence. Its permanent exhibitions explore Rastatt’s history over the past 300 years, as well as its prehistory and early history. This gives Rastatt a different historical focus from Loffenau’s late medieval frescoes and architectural history.
Discover more destinations: Lautenbach, Sinzheim, Durmersheim, HĂĽgelsheim, Lichtenau, Weisenbach, Kuppenheim, Steinmauern.
Return to the overview of the wider destination: Rastatt.
