The Mahlberg Tower near Malsch-Völkersbach is 28.5 metres tall. Climb 160 steps to reach the viewing platform, where you can see the Hornisgrinde, the Rhine plain, the Vosges and the Palatinate. There are also hiking and walking routes, museums showcasing local craft history, and a seasonal outdoor pool. This lets you choose your own focus for your stay, whether it’s views, exercise or culture.

Views and trails around Mahlberg

If you want to explore Mahlberg on foot, there is a signposted trail from the designated hiking car park, about 1.2 kilometres long. The tower itself offers a different kind of ascent, with its height and more than 160 steps; at the top, you can enjoy views in several directions, including across the Rhine plain and as far as the Vosges. Before your visit, check local information about trail signage and parking in case conditions have changed.

There are routes of varying lengths to choose from for hikes. The 5.7-kilometre Waldenfels Tour can start at the Rentnerhütte in Waldprechtsweier or at Malsch swimming pool. It passes through the Burgschlag area, by the historic Waldenfels Castle. The Malsch GeoTour, “Between the Black Forest and the Upper Rhine Graben,” is 5.8 kilometres long and starts and ends at the Rentnerhütte in Waldprechtsweier. These two distances are similar; at 12.2 kilometres, the Panorama Trail is considerably longer.

The Panorama Trail has two possible starting points and offers views across the Rhine plain at many points. At its highest point, you can switch to Routes 11 or 12. Those interested in Nordic walking can find around 100 kilometres of signposted routes in the Malsch municipal area: there are 13 routes in three difficulty levels. Four information boards from the Black Forest Association, supported by the municipality and the Black Forest Central/North Nature Park, help with orientation. A map of the municipal area, including its districts, shows hiking trails, signpost locations and landmarks.

Cycle paths and local orientation

There are also specific directions for planning a cycling trip: three paved cycle paths lead from Malsch parallel to the L607 to Sulzbach and on to Ettlingen, parallel to the L608 to Neumalsch and on to Durmersheim, and parallel to the L607 to Muggensturm. The Nature Park Cycle Route reaches Malsch as the last town on the described stage; from there, the route can continue towards Gaggenau. For a specific trip, it’s worth checking the current route details before setting off.

Crafts, museums and local history

The historic blacksmith and toy museum ensemble at Kreuzstraße 15 is one of the last surviving inner-village farmsteads with a 19th-century craft workshop. It is a listed building and an important testament to regional architectural and craft history. Since September 2024, visitors have been able to explore the toy museum on the upper floor of the smithy, with historic dolls, toy rooms and model shops. Check visiting arrangements before you travel.

At the Völkersbach local history museum, an authentic Völkersbach tailor’s workshop has been brought back to life on the upper floor. The history of the town mill also goes back a long way: it was first mentioned in a document in 1511, while a letter from 1470 already refers to a mill in Malsch. In the town centre, a sandstone sculpture group made by Walter Grimm commemorates the former weigh house.

The outdoor pool as a seasonal option

Malsch outdoor pool is at Hinterbach 7, on the road from Malsch to Waldprechtsweier, on the left-hand side at the edge of the forest. The facilities include a non-swimmer pool with a wide-wave slide and a water mushroom, as well as a children’s paddling pool with a water hedgehog, water cannon, baby slide and water play equipment. There is also a swimming pool, a diving pool with diving facilities, a children’s playground, a beach volleyball court, table tennis tables and a chessboard. As it operates seasonally, check opening hours and individual facilities before your visit.

This lets you choose your destination based on your plans before comparing accommodation.

Discover more destinations: Rheinstetten, Oberhausen-Rheinhausen, Stutensee, Ettlingen, Kürnbach, Marxzell, Gondelsheim, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen

For the main travel overview: Karlsruhe.