Nature, trails and traditions give Schutterwald its many facets: on the Legends Trail, landscapes meet traces of culture; the Kinzig Valley Way of St. James connects the town with a historic pilgrimage route. The area also includes the Unterwassermatten nature reserve and a distinctive tradition of local dialect and traditional costume.
On foot: a circular trail and a long-distance route
The Schutterwald Legends Trail starts at the bathing area of the quarry lake. It runs through meadows, woods and fields, mostly along easy-to-walk paths. At 10.7 kilometres, with a total ascent of 7 metres and an estimated duration of 2 hours 35 minutes, it offers specific figures for planning your day. The trail’s features include numerous sculptures by the quarry lake and traces of the Westwall in the forest. Check seasonal conditions and signposting before setting off; both can change.
The Kinzig Valley Way of St. James follows the historic pilgrimage route towards Santiago de Compostela. It covers 130 kilometres from Lossburg to Kehl and is divided into seven stages. In Schutterwald, St. James’ Church marks the end of the sixth stage and the start of the seventh. Compared with the 10.7-kilometre Legends Trail, the Way of St. James is on a different scale: it places Schutterwald on a multi-stage route, while the circular trail offers a local walking option with an estimated duration.
Nature in and around the town
The Unterwassermatten nature reserve is located in Schutterwald. The reserve aims to help reintroduce and protect the Eurasian curlew. The forests around Schutterwald are also part of the natural landscape: they contain extensive FFH and bird protection areas. Nature enthusiasts will therefore find different scales side by side—a specific reserve with a species conservation objective and larger protected areas in the surrounding forests.
Local dialect, traditional costume and architecture
Schutterwald is considered an island of dialect and traditional costume because of its distinctive local dialect and women’s traditional dress. The women’s costume developed into unusually colourful and varied forms. Another historical reference point is the town’s first recorded mention by name in 1268. In this way, a distinctive local tradition is linked to an early point in the town’s history.
Art experts consider a church in Schutterwald an important transition between the late Baroque and Neoclassical periods. This architectural perspective offers a different focus from the pilgrimage route and traditional costume: here, the emphasis is on positioning the church between two periods of style.
There are different types of cuisine to choose from, too: Schutterwald’s restaurants include German and Italian options. As the restaurant selection can change, check what is currently available in advance.
The wider setting: Ortenaukreis
In the wider destination of Ortenaukreis, the landscape lies between the Rhine and the Black Forest. Ortenaukreis has 23 nature reserves with a total area of around 3,110 hectares; they extend from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. Extending your trip planning to the whole district gives you a broader landscape to explore than Schutterwald alone.
Discover more destinations: Schuttertal, MeiĂźenheim, Lahr/Schwarzwald, Sasbach, Friesenheim, Hornberg, Neuried, Rheinau.
Return to the main travel overview: Ortenaukreis.
