In Brühl, two distinct perspectives on history and landscape come together: the Local History Museum focuses on the history of Brühl and Rohrhof; the approximately 400-hectare Koller Island was created as part of the Rhine straightening project. The current ferry situation is important when planning a crossing to the island.
Local History at the Museum
The Local History Museum in Brühl displays numerous objects relating to the history of Brühl and Rohrhof. Topics include Schütte-Lanz airship construction and the seven brickworks. This brings together the history of technology and the history of the brickworks as concrete ways to explore local history. Special guided tours are available by arrangement; confirm the date in advance and check the museum’s latest notices.
Koller Island and the Ferry Situation
Koller Island was created near Brühl by cutting through a loop of the Rhine as part of Tulla’s Rhine straightening project (1770–1828); it covers approximately 400 hectares. The traditional Koller ferry connects the municipal areas on the right and left banks of the Rhine. From spring to late autumn, it operates on demand; additional or continuous crossings are also available when needed. Ferry service has been suspended with immediate effect due to low water levels. Check the latest ferry notices shortly before your planned visit, before arranging a crossing.
More Perspectives in the Rhine-Neckar District
Other places in the Rhine-Neckar district offer different historical highlights. The Electoral Palatinate’s Schwetzingen Palace features a Rococo theatre and a world-famous park. In Ladenburg’s historic town centre, large parts of the townscape still reflect the Middle Ages and, in some places, Roman times; parts of the former town wall and defensive towers have been preserved in Wiesloch.
The Rhine-Neckar district also offers points of interest in technology, motorsport and castle history: the Hockenheimring in Hockenheim is a popular attraction for motorsport enthusiasts, while the Technik Museum Sinsheim displays the Concorde. Guided tours of Windeck Castle ruins in Weinheim are available.
There are a range of activities for nature and water enthusiasts in the Rhine-Neckar district. The Bergstraße and the eastern part of the district lie within the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park. The annual “Ab in den Wald” programme offers free forest walks and excursions throughout the Rhine-Neckar district; Eberbach has 150 kilometres of marked hiking trails. At Waidsee in Weinheim, there are areas for paddlers, sailors and windsurfers, while water skiing and wakeboarding on a cable system are available at the bathing lake in St. Leon-Rot.
If you would like to explore regional food culture, Schwetzingen offers a specific point of interest: asparagus has been grown there for around 350 years. The Rhine-Neckar district is also part of a tourism network: together with five other tourism destinations, it belongs to “Im Süden ganz oben,” which aims to raise the profile of North Baden-Württemberg as a travel destination.
Discover more destinations: Ladenburg, Eppelheim, Neidenstein, Heddesheim, Hockenheim, Neulußheim, Neckarbischofsheim, Hemsbach
Go to the main travel overview: Rhine-Neckar District.
