Discover Gernsheim

Gernsheim offers a range of starting points for planning your trip: the lake on the southern edge of town, hiking trails in Hammeraue and the municipal forest, and the Hessian long-distance cycle route R6. The history of the Rhine Fishermen’s Festival and the nearby pilgrimage site of Maria Einsiedel round out the options. You can use these specific themes of nature, outdoor activities and culture to plan your stay.

Lake and hiking trails

Gernsheim Lake lies on the southern edge of town, covers about 4.6 hectares and has a large sandy beach. Use of the lake is free; dogs are not allowed. Before visiting, check the city’s latest information about visitor conditions. Five hiking trails were established in Hammeraue and the municipal forest in 1984. This gives you a specific waterside location and two areas with hiking trails as distinct points of interest.

Cycle route and ranger-led tours

The R6 offers a regional contrast to Gernsheim’s hiking trails: it runs from Lampertheim to Warburg and passes through Gernsheim. Ranger-led tours in the Gernsheim municipal forest, organized by the Bergstraße-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park, can be booked on request. They are also offered to other interested visitors, school classes and kindergartens. The cycle route passes through Gernsheim, while the ranger-led tour is an activity at a specific location that can be requested.

History in Gernsheim and Maria Einsiedel

The Rhine Fishermen’s Festival was founded in Gernsheim on April 28, 1949, as a reconciliation festival for professional and recreational anglers. Its festival grounds have been at the tip of Gernsheim harbor since 1949. Maria Einsiedel is located near the destination. The chapel that stands today was built in 1495 to replace an earlier church that had fallen into disrepair. Pilgrims visit Maria Einsiedel throughout the year, a place of peace and reflection. The Great Pilgrimage takes place every year on the first Sunday in July for the Feast of the Visitation of Mary. A youth center has been located there since 1956 and is now run by the Diocese of Mainz as a youth hostel and educational center.

More nature and culture in the Groß-Gerau district

The Groß-Gerau district also has its own nature and route attractions. The Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue European Nature Reserve lies in the western part of the district along the Rhine. As Hesse’s largest contiguous nature reserve, it serves numerous breeding and migratory birds as a breeding and resting ground. The Mönchbruch Nature Reserve lies in the Groß-Gerau district between Rüsselsheim and Mörfelden-Walldorf and is Hesse’s second-largest nature reserve. The Luther Trail 1521 runs for around 31.5 kilometers through the district; check the latest trail conditions before planning your trip. Asparagus is considered a culinary hallmark of the Groß-Gerau district. The district also offers guided tours on industrial history, Jewish history, environmental topics and urban development. Check current information to find out which specific tours are available and the booking conditions.

Discover more destinations: Stockstadt am Rhein, Kelsterbach, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Trebur, Groß-Gerau, Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, Riedstadt, Bischofsheim.

Back to the main travel overview: Groß-Gerau.