Achern City Festival
Summer city festival between Adlerplatz, Marktplatz and Hauptstraße with five stages, around 70 stalls and culinary offerings.
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Achern
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City
ℹ️Practical info — Achern
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Explore the Illenau, a historical former hospital with impressive architecture and a beautiful park.
- Achern is a gateway to the Black Forest High Road; it's a great starting point for a scenic mountain drive.
- Take advantage of the regional Ortenau-S-Bahn train for easy day trips to Strasbourg or deeper into the forest.
- Local shops often close early on Saturday afternoons; plan your main shopping in the morning.
🍽 Food
🍽
Black Forest Cake
You cannot miss the classic Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte at a traditional café in the city center.
🍽
Flammkuchen
Enjoy this regional thin-crust, pizza-like dish, a nod to nearby Alsace, in local taverns.
🍽
Baden Wines
Pair your meal with a glass of local Riesling or Spätburgunder from the Ortenau wine region.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Achern City Center
The lively main street features a mix of fashion stores, local crafts, and family-owned shops.
🛍
Farmers Market
Check out the local market for fresh seasonal fruits, especially cherries and plums from the region.
🧘
Illenau Meadows
Take a quiet stroll through the expansive and well-maintained parklands surrounding the historic Illenau complex.
🧘
Stadtgarten Achern
Relax in this well-kept city park offering a peaceful atmosphere and colorful flower beds.
Water temperature…
Charmingly located in the gentle foothills of the Northern Black Forest and surrounded by lush fruit orchards, Achern is a lively and welcoming town that delights visitors with its regional Baden zest for life and outstanding scenic beauty. Its idyllic location in the climatically favored Ortenau region makes Achern an absolute paradise for both ardent nature lovers and discerning foodies. The townscape is beautifully defined by cozy pedestrian zones, impeccably maintained timber-framed houses, and highly inviting local restaurants proudly serving famous regional wines and hearty traditional Black Forest specialties. A major architectural and historical highlight is the impressive Illenau, a sprawling historical building complex set within a massive, tranquil park. Originally built as a state-of-the-art 19th-century healing institution, it has been transformed into a brilliant modern cultural and community center. For active vacationers, the surrounding landscape features a dense, well-marked network of fantastic hiking and cycling trails. Excursions to the pretty Hornisgrinde, the highest peak in the Northern Black Forest, or the romantically secluded Mummelsee lake are particularly highly recommended. The nearby Black Forest National Park also beckons with its expansive tracts of untouched wilderness. During the summer, Achern exudes an almost Mediterranean flair with its lively street festivals and bustling outdoor markets, making it a good destination for those seeking relaxation, culinary indulgence, and outdoor adventure.
- Location: Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Top sights: Illenau · Klauskirchl (St. Nicholas) · Scythe History Museum
- Nearby: Renchen (7 km)
- Population: ~26.664
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Rain mm | 84 | 63 | 70 | 58 | 99 | 83 | 92 | 89 | 65 | 81 | 74 | 91 |
Geography
Facts
- First mentioned around 1090 as 'Accharon'.
- The Illenau complex opened in 1842 as a model psychiatric hospital.
- Located on the scenic Baden Wine Route.
- Highest point in the municipal area is around 1,160 meters (Hornisgrinde).
- Achern has held the title 'Große Kreisstadt' since 2005.
- Known for scythe manufacturing in the 19th century.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Achern (8)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best base for excursions into the Black Forest?
Achern is considered the gateway to the Black Forest, ideally located for trips to the Black Forest High Road.
What natural sights are nearby?
The Mummelsee and the Hornisgrinde, the highest mountain in the Northern Black Forest, are quickly accessible.
What should you eat in Achern?
The region is famous for cherries, Black Forest cherry schnapps (Kirschwasser), and Ortenau wines.
Is there a weekly market in Achern?
Yes, the market at the town hall square gives fresh regional products on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
How far is Strasbourg?
Strasbourg in Alsace is only about 30 km to the west and reachable via the A5 in 30-40 minutes.
Achern: where is it located?
Achern is located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Achern: what is there to see?
Highlights include Illenau, Klauskirchl (St. Nicholas), Scythe History Museum.
Achern: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Achern: why is it worth visiting?
Charmingly located in the gentle foothills of the Northern Black Forest and surrounded by lush fruit orchards, Achern is a lively and welcoming town that delights visitors with its regional Baden zest for life and outstanding scenic beauty.
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