In St. Leon-Rot, swimming and water sports at the lake sit alongside local history and a long-distance cycle route: St. Leoner See is a swimming lake, the local history museum is in the district of St. Leon, and the Paneuropa Cycle Route from Paris to Prague passes through the municipality. When planning your trip, you can weigh up these different options: time by the water, an insight into the history of the local area, or a cycle route that extends beyond the region.
Swimming Lake and Other Bodies of Water
St. Leoner See has a water surface area of 10 hectares and is up to 27 metres deep. Two other lakes in the recreation area lie east of the swimming lake. Together, they cover 16 hectares of water; surfing, sailing and fishing are permitted on these two lakes. The area figures therefore refer to different places: the 10 hectares apply to the swimming lake, while the 16 hectares apply to the two lakes to the east combined.
This distinction can help you choose what to focus on: St. Leoner See is for swimming, while the two other lakes are designated for the surfing, sailing and fishing mentioned above. A water-ski cableway and a training facility are also incorporated into the swimming lake. If you want to plan your visit around these facilities, check the latest operating information before you go.
Local History at the Museum
The local history museum is in the centre of the district of St. Leon, in the old town hall building. On around 80 m², archaeological finds from the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, as well as from the period of the Roman estates, illustrate the early beginnings of settlement in the local area of St. Leon-Rot. The time span covers several eras rather than focusing on just one period.
A visit to the museum also offers a hands-on element: visitors can try out replica tools, games and equipment for themselves. This means that archaeological finds and replica objects can be seen side by side in the same building. If you want to plan your stay around more than water activities, the museum offers another way to discover the area—through its early settlement and related archaeological finds.
Market and Cycle Route
St. Leoner Markt is a general goods market that still offers useful everyday items today. Its focus therefore differs from the themes of the lake and the local history museum: here, it is all about practical goods.
The Paneuropa Cycle Route from Paris to Prague passes through the municipality of St. Leon-Rot. Its long-distance perspective adds another option to consider when choosing a destination: you can combine St. Leon-Rot with a cycle route without limiting your choice to local water-based activities or museum visits. When planning a stay, you can first decide whether the lake, local history or the cycle route should be your main focus.
More to Explore in the Rhine-Neckar District
Beyond St. Leon-Rot, the wider destination of the Rhine-Neckar District offers other distinct attractions. Schwetzingen's Electoral Palace features a Rococo theatre and a world-famous park. In Ladenburg's historic town centre, the townscape is still shaped largely by the Middle Ages and, in part, by the Roman period. Both examples add further historical perspectives in the district to the local highlights.
Nature and guided activities are also part of what the region offers: the annual “Ab in den Wald” programme provides free guided forest walks and excursions throughout the Rhine-Neckar District. The district therefore offers a choice of different themes, from cultural history to nature experiences. In St. Leon-Rot itself, the swimming lake, local history museum, market and cycle route remain the main points of interest.
Discover more destinations: Sinsheim, NeckargemĂĽnd, Ladenburg, Meckesheim, AltluĂźheim, Reilingen, Lobbach, Gaiberg
For the overview of the wider destination: Rhine-Neckar District.
