Ruhwarden brings together the history of a historic Wurten village, art venues and insights into agriculture. Nearby, a circular walking trail also leads through the tidal flats. This puts local history and art in the village alongside a nature theme outside the village.
Wurten history and art in the village
Ruhwarden is a historic Wurten village and was first mentioned in a document in 1220. The year gives the village’s history a specific point of reference. The sculpture “Die Perle” (“The Pearl”) stands at the entrance to the village. Steel spheres with a maritime history provided the inspiration and material for the artistic process. Those who look at a work of art through the story of how it was created will find a second point of connection here, alongside its location: the history of the material used.
Galleries, model making and village life
The Garage Gallery Ruhwarden was established in 2022 as part of the “Gezeiten Kunst- und Kulturwochen” (“Tides Art and Culture Weeks”). Residents of Ruhwarden painted garage doors for the event. The Garage Gallery is an open-air gallery. The artwork on the doors thus offers a different way to experience art than a single sculpture at the entrance to the village.
The Municipality of Butjadingen lists Galerie Am Wehlhamm in Ruhwarden as a cultural art venue. The “Kleine Welten” (“Little Worlds”) model-making exhibition is also in Ruhwarden. Taken together, the art themes mentioned range from painted garage doors and a listed art venue to model making. To this day, the Ruhwarden Citizens’ Association is responsible for organizing the Easter bonfire, greening the village and putting up the maypole. These activities complement the art venues with community events in the village.
Agriculture and the tidal flats
The family-run “Hof Rothehenne” dairy farm offers a tour with farmer Kuck. Visitors get to know the farm and learn where the milk comes from. The tour focuses on one specific aspect of rural life: working on a dairy farm and the journey of the milk.
Near Ruhwarden, the four-kilometre Langwarder Groden circular walking trail runs through the tidal flats between Fedderwardersiel and Langwarden. Along the way, there are tidal creeks, salt marshes and opportunities for birdwatching. The trail therefore has a different focus from the art venues in the village: here, the emphasis is on the landscape and observing nature.
Ruhwarden on two tours
Two tours also lead to or through Ruhwarden, but follow different routes as described. “TOUR 01 – Kleiner Rundweg um Tossens” (“TOUR 01 – Short Circular Route around Tossens”) follows the dike to Ruhwarden. “TOUR 08 – von Tossens nach Ruhwarden” (“TOUR 08 – from Tossens to Ruhwarden”) passes through Ruhwarden and through Tossens, Roddens, Beckmannsfeld, Mitteldeich and Süllwarden. When choosing, you can consider whether you would like to focus on the stretch along the dike to Ruhwarden or a route through several of the places listed.
Discover more destinations: Eckwarden, Tossens, Süllwarden, Fedderwardersiel, Eckwarderhörne
For the main travel overview: Butjadingen.
