Explore Kandern through several distinct themes: trails featuring art, geological history and astronomy, alongside a long pottery tradition, a historic steam railway and the Protestant town church. The different themes and route lengths provide clear guidance when choosing.
Choose a themed trail by interest and distance
The 5 km Time Trail leads from Kandern to Egerten and depicts the five billion years of Earth’s evolutionary history. It starts at Kandern Town Hall and passes, among other places, the August Macke School. Those interested in geological history will find a connection here between this vast timespan and a trail that begins at specific places in Kandern.
The 6 km Egerten–Kandern Planet Trail presents the solar system as a scale model at a ratio of 1:1 billion. The route ends in Kandern and can also be walked from Kandern. It is one kilometre longer than the Time Trail and has a different thematic focus: this trail explores the solar system, while the other follows the development of Earth.
The August Macke Circular Trail leads to places and motifs that were important to August Macke’s life and work. Ten panels featuring reproductions of his art and text provide biographical and artistic context; the circular trail begins in Kandern. This sets it apart from the two trails focused on natural sciences: its focus is on art and biographical connections.
The 48 km Kandern Municipal Boundary Marathon offers a different kind of route: a mountain bike loop on forest tracks and minor roads near the municipal boundary around Kandern. Comparing the options is therefore not just a matter of kilometres. The Time Trail and Planet Trail have different educational focuses, the August Macke Circular Trail explores art and biographical connections, and the Municipal Boundary Marathon is designated as a mountain bike tour.
Pottery tradition, collection and town church
Clay shaped Kandern for centuries as a pottery town, where prominent studio ceramicists ran their workshops. The Max Laeuger Collection offers insight into his artistic development and shows his significant influence as a pioneer of modern ceramics. Together, the pottery tradition and the collection highlight two related but distinct aspects: the history of ceramics in Kandern and the development of one artist.
The Protestant town church is another historic landmark. After several alterations and extensions, it was built between 1825 and 1827 by J. J. Christoph Arnold, a student of Weinbrenner. The construction period and architect give the church a specific place in Kandern’s architectural history.
Railway and town walk
The Kandertal Railway is a historic steam railway running between Haltingen and Kandern. If you would like to make a journey a fixed part of your itinerary, check the current operating days in advance. The station grounds in Kandern also offer a tour with railway agent Michel for railway enthusiasts of all ages. The focus is on railway history and vehicles—a different way of exploring the subject from the historic railway route itself.
Visitors who want to get to know Kandern on a town walk can get a detailed description from the Tourist Information Office. This makes the walk an option in its own right alongside the themed trails, ceramic history and railway experiences.
Nearby: Sausenburg Castle ruins
The Sausenburg Castle ruins lie east of Sitzenkirch, a district of Kandern. The castle tower is accessible and offers views across the tri-border region in clear weather. Check whether the tower is accessible before visiting. This nearby site adds another option to the range of themes in Kandern, while remaining distinct from the local circular trails and cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Schopfheim, Kleines Wiesental, Bad Bellingen, Wittlingen, Fischingen, Aitern, Schliengen, Fröhnd.
For the main travel overview: Lörrach.
