Lahr/Schwarzwald can be explored through a wide range of themes: the Stork Tower offers a glimpse into the city’s history, while Seepark and the Sign Museum each add their own distinctive touch. When planning your trip, you can consider whether to focus on culture or the park—or whether destinations in the broader Ortenaukreis travel region might also be of interest to you.
City history and a digital tour
The Stork Tower is the remnant of a lowland castle built by the Lords of Geroldseck around 1218/20 in the Lahr lowland along the Schutter River. The approximate date and the named builders give the surviving part a specific place in Lahr’s history. If you are interested in the city’s history, you will find a clearly defined subject here: a castle complex of which one remnant survives, along with an approximate construction date and the names of its builders.
For a different view of Lahr’s city center, the “zeigmal” app offers an interactive digital tour. You can take it independently or as a guided tour in about 60 minutes. The approximate duration helps you assess the tour as a standalone activity. As the app’s availability may change, check what is currently offered before your trip.
Seepark: beach, views and paths
Three features of Seepark offer different points of reference when choosing what to do. The bathing area includes a 4,700-square-meter sandy beach, which is a popular attraction in summer. Seasonal bathing restrictions may apply; check the conditions in advance. The “Krähennest” is an observation tower with views towards the city and surrounding countryside. The lakeside promenade, meanwhile, is the main route through Seepark. This means the beach, views and paths are distinct aspects of the park.
A distinctive cultural attraction: the Sign and Illuminated Advertising Museum
The German Sign and Illuminated Advertising Museum at the Badische Malerfachschule offers a distinctive cultural experience. Its one-of-a-kind collection in Germany documents the history and present-day production of signs and illuminated advertising. The collection’s subject therefore spans both historical development and contemporary production. If you would like to visit the museum, plan your visit by booking an appointment in advance.
The Ortenaukreis as a broader regional setting
The Ortenaukreis lies between the Rhine and the Black Forest. This broader travel region has 23 nature reserves covering a total area of around 3,110 hectares. They extend from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. These figures and the region’s broad range of landscapes refer to the Ortenaukreis as a whole, offering a different perspective from Lahr’s individual attractions.
The Ortenaukreis also offers a range of leisure activities with their own distinctive focus. Rulantica offers water-based fun for the whole family all year round, with indoor and outdoor water attractions. The offering also includes Hyggedal, a relaxation and sauna area. Europa-Park is located in the municipality of Rust. These destinations offer a different kind of leisure experience from the Stork Tower, a city-center tour or Seepark.
The region’s cultural offerings range from minerals to historical ways of life. MiMa exhibits unique minerals from the Black Forest, collected by the Friends of Minerals and Mining Oberwolfach Association (Verein der Freunde von Mineralien und Bergbau Oberwolfach e. V.). A tour of the historic farmhouses at the Vogtsbauernhof Open-Air Museum shows how people lived and worked in the Black Forest up to 600 years ago. In this way, a collection visit and an introduction to cultural history can appeal to different interests.
Nature and city history are also represented in the Ortenaukreis: the Taubergießen Nature Reserve covers 1,695 hectares and is one of Baden-Württemberg’s largest nature reserves. In Gengenbach, the night watchman’s tour has twelve stops and includes the traditional night watchman’s song. The public tours are free of charge; registration is not required. Check the dates in advance. These examples help you distinguish between landscapes, museums and guided cultural activities without equating them with Lahr’s attractions.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Schuttertal, Ettenheim, Bad Peterstal-Griesbach, Meißenheim, Seelbach, Ottenhöfen Im Schwarzwald, Rheinau, Ichenheim.
Back to the broader travel overview: Ortenaukreis.
