Five cycling and culinary tours ranging from 40 to 170 kilometres give a stay in Lichtenau a clear focus on cycling. Added to these are the forest discovery trail in Wörthwald, historic traces from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, and a distinctive cultural venue. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether cycling routes, nature, or history and culture should be the main focus.
Cycling and Culinary Tours
Lichtenau and the Rhine Plain provide the setting for cycling tours through Baden and Alsace. The five selected cycling and culinary tours range from 40 to 170 kilometres. The route distance is therefore a concrete point of comparison when choosing; at the same time, the tour options combine cycling with culinary discoveries.
Another option is the Rhine Cycle Route: it includes a section from Au am Rhein to Lichtenau and is intended both for family outings and for sporty long-distance cyclists. Detours due to construction work may occur. So check the route before setting off.
Floodplain Forest and Hiking Landscapes
The “Komm in die Au nach Lichtenau” forest discovery trail runs through Wörthwald between Lichtenau and Grauelsbaum. It passes 15 stations in a nature reserve. Information boards and discovery stations make the trail an informative, family-oriented walk. This gives the trail a different focus from the cycling options: here, the forest and the stations along the route take centre stage.
Lichtenau also has Rhine floodplain forests; nearby, the Black Forest and the Vosges offer hiking landscapes. This gives you different landscape options to consider when planning your trip: the floodplain forests along the Rhine on the one hand, and the nearby hiking landscapes on the other. You can treat nature and cycling as separate priorities or decide which should take up more of your stay.
History and Culture in Lichtenau
Several precisely dated events help put the medieval history into context. Around 1298, Lichtenau Fortress was built with a wall, a moat and surrounding masonry. On 14 January 1300, Lichtenau was granted town rights. From 1335 to 1390, the town was the residence of the Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg and the seat of the county’s secular and ecclesiastical authorities. Lichtenau’s moated castle was destroyed at the end of the Thirty Years’ War.
A later historical point of interest is in the district of Scherzheim: the Weinbrenner Church dates from 1810, and the historic half-timbered houses are also among the sights. The Scherzheimer Hoftheater adds a cultural dimension to these architectural highlights. As a cultural venue, it is known for its distinctive setting, sophisticated performances and appearances by internationally renowned cultural figures.
Getting to Lichtenau
If travelling by car, take the BĂĽhl/Lichtenau exit from the A5. From there, the route continues for around eight kilometres through Oberbruch and Moos. This description gives you a specific reference point for your journey.
The Regiolinie is also relevant when planning your trip: its bus network connects Lichtenau with RheinmĂĽnster, BĂĽhl and surrounding towns every hour. Check the timetable before travelling so you can plan your journey accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Rastatt, Lautenbach, Kuppenheim, BĂĽhl, Moos, Loffenau, Weisenbach, HĂĽgelsheim.
Go to the main travel overview: Rastatt.
