Kuppenheim offers a distinctive mix of local history and outdoor experiences: the local history museum and memorial sites reveal different chapters of the town’s past, while Bürgerpark and trails through meadows, forest and Harsbachtal offer other highlights. There are also different ways to plan your visit—from time in the park to longer hiking and cycling routes. You can tailor your stay to culture, landscape or a combination of both.
Town History at Specific Sites
Kuppenheim was first mentioned in writing around 1095. Most of the former fortifications were demolished in the early 19th century; parts of the former town wall have been preserved. The Kuppenheim Local History Museum covers the town’s history and social development across twelve themed areas.
The Synagogenplatz commemorates Jewish life in Kuppenheim. At the same time, the square recalls the synagogue that was burned down during the 1938 pogrom. The Jewish district cemetery in Kuppenheim was first mentioned in writing in 1694 and, as a district cemetery, forms part of the history of Jewish life in Central Baden.
The nickname “Knöpflestadt” also leads to a local tradition. It is associated with a legend from the Thirty Years’ War, according to which Knöpfle—a type of Spätzle—were supposedly cooked at the time. Together, these sites offer different perspectives on the town: its history of fortifications, Jewish life and a traditional explanation for its nickname.
Bürgerpark and Trails Through Forest and Valley
Bürgerpark on the Murg offers families a place to relax and features a modern playground. The park also has a scale model of the Murg from its source to its mouth, supplemented by explanatory stations. This brings leisure facilities and information about the river’s course together in the same green space.
For hiking, the two Fichtental routes offer a clear comparison of distances: they are 4.4 and 8.5 kilometres long and pass through meadows, forest and Harsbachtal. The difference in route length makes it easier to choose when planning the distance of your hike. Kuppenheim’s town forest is a deciduous woodland on the ridge between Fichtental and the Murg Valley, with views on both sides. The 6.7-kilometre O5 trail passes Schloss Bad Rotenfels and the Unimog Museum. There is also an athletics facility on Großaustraße.
Cycling and S-Bahn Connections
The Tour de Murgtal is a 61-kilometre family cycling route from Baiersbronn to Rastatt. One described option from Kuppenheim combines an S-Bahn ride to a starting point as far away as Baiersbronn with the return journey to Kuppenheim by bike. The S-Bahn connects Kuppenheim with Rastatt and Karlsruhe, as well as with Freudenstadt in the Black Forest. If you are planning to combine train and cycling, check the latest schedules.
Culture in the wider destination of Rastatt
In the wider destination of Rastatt, the Rastatt Town Museum is housed in a Baroque town palace opposite the Residence Palace. Its permanent exhibitions cover Rastatt’s history over the past 300 years as well as prehistory and early history. Rastatt Palace was the first Baroque residence built on German soil and was modelled on Versailles.
Discover more destinations: Ötigheim, Bühl, Bühlertal, Durmersheim, Forbach, Gernsbach, Moos, Muggensturm.
View the wider travel overview: Rastatt.
