Lauf’s trails and historic sites offer a range of experiences: the Goat Trail is child-friendly and can be enjoyed at any time of day, the fitness trail has 17 exercise stations, and the Energy Trail combines physical activity with the history of hydropower. Neuwindeck Castle and the old wine press add local architectural and cultural history to the nature and outdoor activities on offer. When planning your visit, you can first decide whether you want to focus on a walk, targeted exercise, scenery or history.
Trails for different interests
The child-friendly Goat Trail is signposted from the town centre and can be walked at any time of day. This makes it easy to fit into your schedule without having to choose a particular time. While walking on the Goat Trail in Bruderhöfel, you may find yourself surrounded by a herd of curious goats; the animals’ location can vary. An encounter with them is therefore a possible highlight of the trail, not a scheduled activity.
The fitness trail is about one kilometre long and has a total of 17 exercise stations. It is suitable for walks, fitness walking and several running laps, and appeals to families, older visitors and keen athletes alike. Alongside the Goat Trail, it offers another way to get active, with a dedicated selection of exercise equipment.
Laufbachtal Valley and the Energy Trail
Laufbachtal Valley and its side valleys are ideal for hiking and mountain biking. If you would like to follow a specific theme as part of your route, the Energy Trail offers a connection to Lauf’s hydropower history. It runs from the power station building in Au to the reservoir in Glashütte, following the route of the pipeline built in 1923/1924.
The Energy Trail is 6.7 km long. The return route goes around the reservoir and along the Laufbach Trail to the Iron Bridge and back to the power station in Au. This makes it considerably longer than the fitness trail, which is about one kilometre long; the two trails also differ in focus, with one highlighting hydropower history and the other exercise equipment.
Neuwindeck Castle and the old wine press
Neuwindeck Castle, popularly known as “Lauf Castle”, was built around 1300 by the Lords of Windeck. The inner courtyard is accessible to pedestrians at any time; nevertheless, check local conditions before your visit. Seasonal opening times are listed for climbing the castle tower: Saturdays and Sundays in summer, from April, 10 am to 6 pm; in winter, from October, 10 am to 5 pm. Check before your visit whether this information is still up to date.
Another local historic site is the old wine press at Alsenhof in Lauf. Its basic structure probably dates back to the 16th century. This places it in a later historical period than the castle, built around 1300; the dating of the wine press is uncertain.
The wider region: Ortenau District
Ortenau District lies between the Rhine and the Black Forest. This wider travel destination 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, providing a regional landscape backdrop alongside Lauf’s trails and cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Schutterwald, Sasbach, Ortenberg, Ichenheim, Friesenheim, Oberharmersbach, Kappelrodeck, Offenburg
Back to the regional travel overview: Ortenau District.
