Journées du patrimoine
Heritage Days in Alsace 2026
Those interested can experience history in nearby Alsace from September 19 to 20, 2026. Several exciting guided tours will be offered in German.
More information at openagenda.com
Program in Alsace
Guided tours
(1) Guided tour of Strasbourg: "The New Town, the German Imperial Quarter"
Place de la République marks the entrance to the New Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This monumental district, considered one of Strasbourg’s most beautiful neighborhoods, was built by the German government beginning in 1881. The new district—through which this tour takes you—was intended to serve as a showcase for the Imperial Province of Alsace-Lorraine.
Date: September 20, 2025
Time: 14:30 - 16:00
Meeting point: Monument , Place de la République | 67000 Strasbourg
Registration: Maximum of 30 people; registration required at https://shop.visitstrasbourg.fr/de/visite/die-neustadt-das-deutsche-viertel-1871-1918-2/
Admission: free
(2) Escape Game "Die botanische Bedrohung Phlox Rhizome" – Anlage der Maginot-Linie in Lembach
An alle Mutigen und Abenteurer: Wir befinden uns mitten im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Ihr betretet Le Four à Chaux, ein strategisch wichtiges Festungswerk der Maginot-Linie. Doch die Gefahr lauert bereits im Inneren. Professor Steimann, ein renommierter deutscher Chemiker mit ebenso genialen wie wahnsinnigen Ideen, ist in das Festungswerk eingedrungen. Im Rahmen seiner grausamen Experimente hat er eine äußerst aggressive, invasive Pflanze erschaffen, die alles auf ihrem Weg vernichtet – auch euch!
Eure Mission: Findet heraus, wie ihr diese pflanzliche Bedrohung endgültig vernichten könnt, bevor es zu spät ist.
Solltet ihr das Laub angreifen? Die Äste? Oder doch die Wurzeln?
Ihr habt nur 40 Minuten.
Date: September 20, 2025
Uhrzeit: 10:00 – 18:00 Uhr, Dauer des Games jeweils 1,5 bis 2 Stunden
Address: RD 65, Ouvrage du Four à Chaux, 67510 Lembach
Erreichbarkeit: Zwischen Lembach und Pfaffenbronn gelegen, Buslinie 317 Fluo GrandEst, kostenlose Parkplätze
Registration: 30 people maximum
Admission: half price
More information: Website & Call +33 03 88 94 48 52
French tours & program
with a French connection
in Karlsruhe
Steam Train Rides Around Karlsruhe
on September 20, 2026
Program
A Steam Train Tour Around Karlsruhe on September 20, 2026
You can experience travel just like in the old days! Three trips are offered departing from Karlsruhe Central Station: The first trip goes through the Karlsruhe freight yard to Winden in the Palatinate and back. The second trip follows the steep route to Waldbronn-Reichenbach and back, and the last trip takes you along the currently unused line to Wintersdorf and back.
Date: Please note: This event will not take place on Open Monument Day, but on September 20, 2026!
Departure times: 9 :00 a.m. – approx. 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – approx. 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – approx. 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Point, Departure & Arrival: Karlsruhe Central Station, Track 14
Registration: No. Registration via the website is not required www.dampfnostalgie-karlsruhe.de , but you are welcome to do so. Tickets are available on the steam train.
Organized by: Dampfnostalgie Karlsruhe
Accessibility: not barrier-free
French connection: The route to Wintersdorf used to cross the Rhine and continue into Alsace.
Children's Program: There are railroad-themed souvenirs, such as the mascot Karl the Steam Horn
Dining: All trains have dining cars that serve food and drinks.
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Steam nostalgia Karlsruhe
Museum in the old
Altensteig Castle
Altensteig Old Castle © Dieter Baumann
Program
(1) Guided tour of the castle in French
The tour includes the defensive towers as well as the four-story historic castle, which features a permanent exhibition on the castle's history, the town's history, and traditional Black Forest trades, such as shingle makers, tanners, and raftsmen.
Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Meeting point: Entrance of the museum
Led by: Marianne Müller
Accessibility: not barrier-free
Children's program: The "Schlaukopftour", which children can pick up at the ticket office, is a quiz sheet with questions about historical stations marked in the museum. Those who get everything right receive a button at the ticket desk.
Guided tour in English/French: Yes, the tour is conducted entirely in French. Questions can be answered in French. Museum brochure in French.
Catering: The castle café opens at 2 pm
(2) Guided tour of the castle in German
The tour includes the defensive towers as well as the four-story historic castle, which features a permanent exhibition on the castle's history, the town's history, and traditional Black Forest trades, such as shingle makers, tanners, and raftsmen.
Time: 14:00 - 15:30
Meeting point: Entrance of the museum
Realization: Martin Spreng
Accessibility: not barrier-free
Children's Program: Children can pick up a "Schlaukopftour" quiz sheet at the ticket counter and search for the stations throughout the museum. Once they've checked off the correct answers on the quiz sheet, they can simply bring it back to the ticket counter to win a "Schlaukopf" button.
Catering: The castle café opens at 2 pm
(3) Special Exhibition: "Exclusion and Persecution in the Calw District, 1933–1945"
The exhibition, on loan from Gabriel Stängle, presents a striking overview of how the Jewish population in the Calw district was systematically robbed, persecuted, and marginalized between 1933 and 1945. It is an exhibition designed to inspire reflection and educate the public.
Time: 11:00 - 17:00
Accessibility: not barrier-free
Catering: The castle café opens at 2 pm
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Towering high above the old town is Altensteig Castle, whose impressive residential tower is considered the only undestroyed castle in the Black Forest to this day. The “Old Castle,” in its current basic form, was built as a defensive structure beginning around 1230. The flanking towers “Himmel” and “Hölle” and the late Romanesque shield wall bear witness to this. The castle was the residence of the bailiffs of the Counts Palatine of Tübingen and a collateral branch of the Hohenberg family. After the castle and its domain were sold to the Margraves of Baden at the end of the 14th century, the complex became the seat of the Baden bailiffs, who inscribed their names in a window arch of the Knights’ Hall. In 1604, Altensteig passed from Baden to Württemberg as part of a territorial exchange. Around 1610, the new rulers commissioned the “New Castle,” a building designed by Schickhardt.
Opening hours: 11:00 - 17:00
Address: Kirchstraße 11 | 72213 Altensteig
Accessibility: Nearby bus stops and parking spaces are available above the castle on Welkerstraße
Website: www.schlossmuseum-altensteig.de
Red House
Karlsruhe
The Red House in Karlsruhe - © H.R.Hiegel
Program
(1) Leadership
Welcome address by the owner, Dr. Andrea Menges-Fleig. Information about the Red House: history, architecture, activities.
Time: 10 :00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. (each session lasts 15–30 minutes)
The times listed are fixed. A detailed schedule will be announced in due course.
Meeting point: In front of the Red House
Organized by: Andrea Menges-Fleig, Silvia Scharna, Florian Lenk, Renate Rastätter
Registration: Not required, but preferred via email to rotes-haus-ka@web.de
Accessibility: not barrier-free
Weather-dependent: takes place outdoors, with the option of sheltering under cover
English & French Guided Tour: Brief information about the Red House: history, architecture, activities—also available in English and possibly French (by reservation)
Refreshments: Non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, and cake
(2) Welcoming guests in the garden
Renate Rastätter, former member of the state parliament, welcomes the guests in the garden of the Rotes Haus.
Time: 1 :30 p.m. – approx. 1:40 p.m.
Meeting place: Garden at the Red House
Led by: Renate Rastätter
Registration: Not required, but preferred via email to rotes-haus-ka@web.de
Accessibility: partially barrier-free
Weather-dependent: takes place outdoors, with the option of sheltering under cover
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The former dairy of Rüppurr Castle; work to demolish the dilapidated aristocratic estate had already begun in the 18th century. A quarter-century ago, it underwent extensive renovation and has since served as a therapy and community center where public events are held once a month.
Opening hours: 10:30 - 17:00
Address: Rastatter Straße 17 | 76199 Karlsruhe
Accessibility: "Rüppurrer Schloss" tram stop
Website: www.rotes-haus-ka.de
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There is a philosophical-artistic essay titled "Weinbrenner Sees Red"
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Red House Karlsruhe
Waldensian Way
Program
Guided tour on the Waldensian Trail Palmbach
The tour takes the form of a leisurely walk along well-maintained paths through the center of Palmbach. All stops along the Waldensian Trail, the locations of the steles, and Waldensian Square are accessible to people with disabilities. The meeting point is at 2:00 p.m. in front of the Waldensian Church. You should plan on spending about 120 minutes for the tour, including a visit to the church. Look forward to an engaging historical tour featuring historical facts and interesting information about Palmbach and the history of the Waldensians. Visitors will learn who the Waldensians were, why they were persecuted for centuries, and what historical legacy remains visible in Palmbach to this day. The tour also vividly illustrates where significant buildings and important centers of village life once stood. The Waldenserweg invites you to discover Palmbach’s history on a varied walking tour through the town center and to gain a vivid understanding of the cultural roots of this Waldensian village. We hope you’ll gain interesting insights and enjoy a pleasant time in Palmbach.
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Meeting place: Waldenserkirche Palmbach, Talstraße 43
Realization: Roland Jourdan
Accessibility: completely barrier-free
Weather dependency: takes place outdoors, without the possibility of shelter
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The Waldenserweg in Karlsruhe-Palmbach is a cultural-historical themed trail approximately 1,000 meters long that was opened in 2015 to mark Karlsruhe’s city anniversary. Through twelve stations featuring 24 illustrated display panels, it tells the story of the Waldensians and Palmbach’s historic sites. A central highlight is Waldenserplatz with the “Gate of Arrival” monument, whose open door symbolizes the Waldensians’ arrival in their new home, as well as hope and a new beginning.
Hours: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Address: Talstraße 43 | 76228 Karlsruhe
Accessibility: Palmbach Church bus stop
Website: www.waldenserweg.de
Westwall bunker
Rastatt
Program
Bomb Disposal Demonstration
An explosive ordnance disposal expert (a member of the Rastatt Historical Society) will demonstrate how unexploded ordnance is rendered harmless at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Time:
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Bunker tour
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Bomb disposal
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Bunker tour
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Bomb disposal
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Bunker tour
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Bunker tour
Meeting point: On the club grounds in front of the bunker
Conducted by: Dominik Schnurr, Boris Traub, Maximilian Wawrzinek
Accessibility: partially barrier-free
Kids' Activities: Coloring Pages
French connection: The bunker complex was built to defend against an attack from France and served as a prison for the French occupation forces after 1945; later, it became a bar at the French Türkenlouis barracks.
Refreshments: Grilled sausages and drinks, coffee and cake
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A fully preserved bunker from the Siegfried Line, dating from 1938. Between 1936 and 1940, the German western border was fortified with nearly 20,000 other structures. The so-called “Regelbau 10” is a “shelter for 15 soldiers with an attached combat room,” a type commonly found throughout the Westwall. While most bunkers were demolished after 1945, the Rastatt bunker is the only fully preserved example of this type along the Upper Rhine. The guided tour explores the historical context, the technology, and the structural and tactical principles.
Opening hours: 10:00 - 16:00
Address: Kehlerstraße 48 = L75 (south of the Merzeau bus stop), toward Iffezheim | 76437 Rastatt
Accessibility: Parking spaces available
Website: hist-verein-rastatt.de
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The Unique Features of the Westwall Bunker in Rastatt
