Offenburg is a city in the Black Forest in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It serves as a historic crossroads where the Rhine Valley meets the Kinzig Valley, earning it the nickname "Gate to the Black Forest." The town is characterized by its Baroque architecture, a lively market culture, and its deep connection to the 1848 German Revolution, which started in the local Salmen inn. Today, it is a vibrant regional center known for its high quality of life, sun-drenched vineyards, and as a strategic hub for travelers heading toward Strasbourg or deeper into the mountains.
Understand
[edit]
Offenburg is best known for being the capital of the wine region Ortenau. It sides west to the Black Forest at the Upper Rhine, lying at the entrance of the Kinzigtal and the Renchtal.
Climate
[edit]Winters are moderate but usually with frequent frosts. Offenburg is one of the warmest places in Germany and therefore considered as a viticultural area like neighbour villages such as Durbach, Oberkirch or Gengenbach.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]The nearest airports are as follows:
- Baden Airpark Karlsruhe / Baden Baden (FKB IATA)
- Strasbourg Airport (SXB IATA)
- Euroairport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL IATA, MLH or EAP)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA IATA) is a bit farther away but offers much more connections.
By train
[edit]- 1 Offenburg Hauptbahnhof. close to the inner city. Frequent connections run to the north towards Frankfurt and south to Basel, with fast ICE trains leaving in each direction each hour. Again, planning ahead can get cheap fares of €29 each way. From the Hauptbahnhof, you have direct access to the Busbahnhof which runs directly overhead the main station. The Hauptbahnhof is also within easy walking distance of the inner city. Main direct destinations include:
*Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and Airport (Flughafen),
*Zurich, (Switzerland)
*Basel, (Switzerland)
*Heidelberg,
*Mannheim,
*Berlin,
*Cologne,
*Hamburg,
*Strasbourg, (France),
*Amsterdam, (The Netherlands),
*Milan, (Italy),
Local and regional trains can be good for day trips or for traveling to nearby cities, for example Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Baden Baden, Freudenstadt or Konstanz. In the main station ask for the Länder-tickets. Such tickets can be used by a group of up to 5 persons in the RB and RE trains as well as for local transport. They are a much cheaper alternative for a group of travelers going to cities nearby or going for a day trip.
By car
[edit]Offenburg is connected to the German highway system via the A5, running along the Valley of the Upper Rhine from south to north, starting at the Swiss border. It also is accessible through the Kinzigtal Black Forest via the B33. From Strassbourg/France it takes about 30 minutes by car. From Freiburg it is about 50 minutes. Baden Baden is a 30-minute car ride to the north, using the A5. The town can be reached from Freuenstadt in one hour through the Renchtal via the B28.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Offenburg
- The historic city centre is almost entirely a pedestrian zone. You can walk from the main train station to the Market Square (Marktplatz) in less than 10 minutes. Most sights, shops, and restaurants are clustered within this walkable core.
- If you stay overnight, check if your hotel provides the KONUS Guest Card, which allows for free travel on all local buses and regional trains.
See
[edit]Castles
[edit]
- 1 Schloss Staufenberg, Durbach, ☏ +49 7553 81284. Winery
- 2 Schloss Ortenberg. This castle towers over Ortenberg from atop a hill. Ortenberg is a community of 3000 people about 5 km away from Offenburg. The original castle from the 12th century was totally destroyed in the course of the Franco-Dutch war in the late 17th century. Reconstruction began in 1838 and was completed in 1843. It has been a youth hostel since 1950. Visitors are allowed from April to October between 09:00 and 19:00.
- Ruine Schauenburg. The Schauenburg is located above Oberkirch a bit north-east of Offenburg. It provides a restaurant and an event location with great views.
Museums
[edit]- 3 Museum im Ritterhaus, Ritterstraße 10. Displays culture, history, art and nature.
- 4 [dead link] Schulmuseum Zell-Weierbach (Museum für ehemals Großherzoglich Badische Schulen), Schulstraße 3, Zell-Weierbach.
Do
[edit]- 1 Hiking the Offenburg Wine Trail (Offenburger Weinwanderweg), Starts in Rammersweier or Fessenbach. Offenburg Vineyard Trail (Offenburger Weinwanderweg) – This 8-km loop trail runs through the vineyard districts of Rammersweier, Zell-Weierbach, and Fessenbach. The route provides views across the Rhine Valley toward the Vosges Mountains in France and features educational panels on local viticulture. Several local wineries, including Schloss Ortenberg and Renner, are located along the path and offer wine tastings or seasonal events.
- 2 Cycling the Kinzig Valley (Kinzigtal-Radweg). Offenburg is the gateway to one of the Black Forest's most popular cycle routes. The path follows the Kinzig river and is mostly flat or downhill if you start in Freudenstadt and ride towards Offenburg. It's perfect for a relaxed day trip through traditional villages and lush landscapes.
- 3 Relaxing at Gifizsee, Platanenallee, 77656 Offenburg. A popular local recreation area featuring a swimming lake with a beach (Strandbad), a large park, and a small animal enclosure (Tiergehege) that is free to enter. It’s a great spot for families to see goats, ponies, and even alpacas in a natural setting.
- 4 Brandeckturm Viewpoint, Zell-Weierbach. 24/7. Hike up to this observation tower located on the Brandeck mountain. From the top, you are rewarded with a 360-degree panorama of the Black Forest, the Ortenau vineyards, and the Alsace region across the border.
- 5 Visit the Weekly Market (Wochenmarkt), Fischmarkt and Steinstraße. Tu Sa 07:30–13:00. Experience the local lifestyle by visiting one of the biggest farmers' markets in the region. It’s the perfect place to buy regional specialties like "Schwarzwälder Schinken" (Black Forest ham), local honey, and fresh fruits from the Rhine valley.
Buy
[edit]
A reasonable sized town with about 450 stores. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, there is a farmers market held along the Steinstraße and Fischmarkt streets.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Confiserie Kaffeehaus Gmeiner, Steinstraße 2 77652 Offenburg, ☏ +49 781 70302. M W Th F 09:00-18:00; Tu 08:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-18:00. One of Germany's most renowned traditional coffee houses. Famous for its handmade pralines, exquisite chocolate cakes, and classic Viennese-style atmosphere in the heart of the pedestrian zone. €10+.
- 2 Brasserie Engel, Hauptstraße 58, ☏ +49 781 97059124. Tu-Th 11:30–23:00, F Sa 11:30–00:00, Su 11:30–22:00. A French-style brasserie located in a historic building in the heart of the pedestrian zone. It offers a sophisticated mix of Alsatian classics like Flammkuchen, modern European dishes, and a selection of regional wines. The outdoor seating is perfect for people-watching on the main street.
- 3 Gaststätte Ponyhof, Wasserstraße 22, ☏ +49 781 24395, [email protected]. Daily from 18:00 (closing times vary, usually late). A "Texas Village" theme restaurant. During the day, it is a paradise for families, featuring a playground, a "Candybar" sweet house, and popular pony rides on Sunday afternoons. In the evenings, it transforms into a rustic haven for bikers and Western fans, who gather at the open fire pits or the specialized Whiskey & More bar for BBQ, steaks, and a distinctive US-country atmosphere. €15-€30.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Schoellmanns Bar & Kitchen, Hauptstraße 88, ☏ +49 781 9194999. Tu-Th 10:00–00:00, F Sa 10:00–01:00. Located on the top floor with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city and the Black Forest foothills. It’s the place to go for high-quality cocktails, regional wines, and a stylish atmosphere. €9.50-15 for drinks; €8.50-€35 for dishes.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Schloss Ortenberg Youth hostel, Burgweg 21, Ortenberg. The fairytale castle is also the Ortenaus landmark.
- 2 Mercure Hotel Offenburg am Messeplatz, Schutterwälder Straße 1a, ☏ +49 781 5050. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Located south of the city center near the fairgrounds (Messe). The hotel features a rooftop terrace with views of the Black Forest, an on-site restaurant (Schenke), and a sauna area. Convenient access to the Kinzig cycle path. From €95 for single bedroom.
- 3 Hotel Sonne, Schulstraße 3, 77654 Offenburg, ☏ +49 781 969150. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. A traditional family-run hotel located in the vineyard district of Zell-Weierbach. It serves as an ideal base for the Offenburg Vineyard Trail. The on-site restaurant is well-known for its regional Baden cuisine and seasonal specialties. From €85 for single bedroom.
Connect
[edit]- 1 Tourist Information Offenburg, Fischmarkt 2, ☏ +49 781 82 2000. M-F 08-18:00; Sa 08:00-12:00. Located in the historic Salzhaus. Provides maps, wine-tasting information, and details on local hiking trails.
- 2 Deutsche Post, Hauptstraße 24. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-13:00. Main post office near the train station and the northern entrance to the pedestrian zone.
- Internet & Wi-Fi: Free public Wi-Fi is available in the city center around the Marktplatz and the city library (Salzhaus) via the "Free-Wifi-Offenburg" or "Unitymedia" hotspots. Most cafés and the Mercure Hotel offer free Wi-Fi for guests.
Go next
[edit]- Baden-Baden (DE): About 30 km north (20 min by ICE). An elegant spa town famous for its thermal baths, the casino, and the "Lichtentaler Allee" promenade.
- Strasbourg (FR): Just across the Rhine, 30 minutes by car or local train (Europabahn). Visit the impressive Gothic Cathedral and the picturesque "Petite France" district.
- Gengenbach (DE): Only 10 minutes by train. Often called "Pearl among the half-timbered towns," it features one of the most beautiful old towns in the region and the world's largest advent calendar house in December.
- Europa-Park (Rust): About 30 minutes south by car. Germany's largest theme park offers entertainment for all ages with diverse European themed areas.