Roman history, an artist’s cabinet and a trail through the landscape of the Hessian Ried offer different ways to discover Groß-Gerau. The town museum focuses on the area’s long Roman past, while the Ebbelwoi-Päädsche combines landscape topics with regional cider culture. If you want to plan your stay around your interests, you can compare culture with a short themed trail.
Roman History and Art at the Town Museum
The town museum’s permanent exhibition presents almost three centuries of Roman history in today’s Auf Esch district. It spans from the Augustan era to the beginning of the Migration Period. This allows visitors to explore an extended period of local history in one exhibition, rather than limiting their visit to a single find or era.
Another section is devoted to Groß-Gerau artist Wilhelm Altheim (1871–1914) and includes drawings, prints and paintings. It has been on display since 1 July 2014. His drawings in particular are permanently accessible in a cabinet exhibition during regular opening hours. The town museum thus presents Roman history and fine art as two distinct areas of focus.
The official guided tour offering in Groß-Gerau includes “Groß-Gerau in Roman Times” at the town museum. If you would like to combine this focus with a guided tour, check the current dates before planning your visit.
Crafts, Church and Monument History
The Crafts Museum focuses on trades that were once represented in Groß-Gerau. Old tools and archival materials document a range of crafts and illustrate the transition from purely manual work to the machine age. The building itself also has a workshop history: the Crafts Museum is located in the former workshop of a master carpenter. It later served his grandson Adam Schaab as a locksmith’s workshop.
In the town centre, the town church is an artistic monument and a witness to history. Its description as a place of silence, the Word and music is reflected in the activities on offer: services, devotions, concerts and celebrations marking the milestones of Christian life. The programme may vary, so if you have a particular date in mind, check the latest details.
Another testament to history is the Groß-Gerau Pheasantry. The former hunting reserve of the Dukes of Darmstadt was established between 1722 and 1726 and is fully protected as a historic monument. It complements the museum and church themes with a protected historic ensemble.
Ebbelwoi-Päädsche: Landscape and Cider Culture
The cider trail, colloquially known as the “Ebbelwoi-Päädsche”, runs for around 1.5 kilometres between the districts of Auf Esch and Wallerstädten. The route passes through typical landscapes of the Hessian Ried and also offers an insight into regional cider culture. Along the trail, information boards explain how the landscape was formed, including Ice Age wind-blown sand dunes and changes caused by the course of the Old Neckar.
The apple tree grove is also part of this themed trail: old cider apple varieties have been planted there, forming the basis for the region’s traditional cider. Landscape, geological history and regional culture all feature along the same route, which is not limited to a single theme. At around 1.5 kilometres, it also offers a clearly defined point of comparison with visits to the town’s exhibitions.
Nature in the Wider Groß-Gerau Travel Destination
The nature-focused side of the wider Groß-Gerau travel destination extends beyond the town into the district. Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue European Nature Reserve lies in the west of the district along the Rhine. It is Hesse’s largest contiguous nature reserve and provides breeding and resting grounds for numerous resident and migratory birds. Mönchbruch Nature Reserve, between Rüsselsheim and Mörfelden-Walldorf, is also in Groß-Gerau district and is Hesse’s second-largest nature reserve. These regional protected areas complement the nearby museum and trail themes with a further perspective focused specifically on the district.
Discover more destinations: Rüsselsheim, Büttelborn, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Kelsterbach, Raunheim, Stockstadt am Rhein, Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, Riedstadt.
Back to the main travel overview: Groß-Gerau.
