Wald-Michelbach lies in the Überwald, part of the southern Odenwald, in the heart of the Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park. Wooded ridges, valleys and small streams shape the landscape. There is also plenty to explore, from marked hiking trails and cycling routes to a ride on a draisine and insights into mining history. When choosing where to stay, it helps to consider which side of the area you want to focus on: nature, outdoor activities, local history or a combination of these themes.
Landscape and Trails
Wald-Michelbach has well-marked hiking trails. One clearly defined route is the “Accessible Nature Experience Wald-Michelbach” trail: It runs for 3.3 kilometres along a former railway line between Unter-Wald-Michelbach and Affolterbach, offering largely barrier-free access to nature and the landscape. Aschbach, a district of Wald-Michelbach, also has an ecological nature trail and a Geopark information centre.
The two options offer different experiences: The route of the “Accessible Nature Experience” follows a former railway line and has a defined length and endpoints, while in Aschbach the ecological nature trail is located alongside the Geopark information centre. This lets you choose between a clearly defined route and a nature-focused experience with information on offer.
Cycling and the Solar Draisine
There are also different types of cycling routes. The Weschnitztal-Überwald cycling route is signposted throughout and reaches the Überwald after climbing to Kreidacher Höhe. The Tromm Geocentre circular route connects its stations over 22 kilometres and is signposted in both directions.
The solar draisine offers another way to experience the former railway line. It travels about 10 kilometres between Mörlenbach and Wald-Michelbach along the route of the former Überwaldbahn. Along the way, it crosses three large viaducts and passes through two tunnels. The 22-kilometre Tromm Geocentre circular route and the approximately 10-kilometre draisine ride are different options: a marked circular route and a ride along the former railway line.
Mining and Local History
The Überwald Museum is housed in Wald-Michelbach’s historic half-timbered town hall, which bears the year 1594. Its exhibitions offer insights into the region’s working life in the past and showcase various traditional crafts. A dedicated section focuses on mining in the Überwald and features iron ore, manganese and baryte. The museum thus combines a broad look at work in the past with a closer focus on mining.
The Grube Ludwig visitor mine is a significant surviving industrial monument from the heyday of mining in the Überwald. The museum and visitor mine offer different ways to explore the area’s history: The museum focuses on the region’s working life in the past, while Grube Ludwig survives as a testament to mining. Those interested in industrial history can therefore find both an overview of various traditional crafts and a specific focus on mining.
The Waldschwimmbad Outdoor Pool
The Waldschwimmbad outdoor pool adds swimming to the area’s nature and history offerings. The main pool measures 25 by 16 metres and has a diving pool. The non-swimmers’ pool has a 55-metre water slide. Alongside hiking trails, cycling routes and mining history, this offers another distinct option for planning your stay.
Discover more destinations: Gorxheimertal, Lorsch, Mörlenbach, Bensheim, Heppenheim, Birkenau, Groß-Rohrheim, Zwingenberg
For the overview of the wider region: Bergstraße.
