Nature Park Center

The Nature Park Center Stromberg-Heuchelberg is located in the middle of nature at lake Ehmetsklinge near Zaberfeld. With its wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, the center is an exciting trip destination for the whole family as well as an information center for the entire region. Surrounded by forests and vineyards, it also serves as a point of entry into the diverse landscape and as a starting point for hikes and biking tours.

Located between the cities Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg and Pforzheim, the nature park is an island of peace and relaxation from everyday urban life on an area of around 41,000 hectares. As a bird sanctuary and FFH area, large parts of the nature park belong to Europe’s special natural heritage. The nature park is home to many rare animals and plants, for example the wildcat or the Bechstein’s bat.

Permanent exhibition and changing exhibitions

On around 350 m^2, a permanent exhibition inside of the Nature Park Center informs about all aspects of the region in an entertaining way. The central theme is the leitmotif of the nature park: Wine. Forest. Feeling good.

The exhibition has many stations that invite you to become active yourself and discover the diversity of nature. You can crawl through tunnels, snooze on a forest lounger or find out if you hear as well as the wildcat. The permanent exhibition is enriched with the “Wildcat World”, where you can learn all about wildcats.

Additionally, there regularly are special temporary exhibitions that highlight different aspects of the landscape, culture and nature in the nature park.

Outdoor activities

The Wildkräuterwelt ("Wild Herbs Worlds") is a structurally rich garden with many native wild herbs and wild perennials that invite visitors to discover, to linger and to gain tips for their own gardens.

You can test your knowledge about butterflies at the freely accessible butterfly quiz at the entrance of the Wild Herbs World, where illustrated boards inform about the six-legged beauties.

The Hirschkäferpfad ("Stag Beetle Trail") is a short trail through the woods with information boards and activity stations about the stag beetle. It starts directly at the Nature Park Center.

The WasserWelt Zaberfeld ("Water World") is an adventure trail about water. You can either simply play and romp around or borrow the water adventure box at the nature park center. The box contains various devices such as landing nets and magnifying glasses to turn the trail into an educational trail for both kids and adults.

The Wildkatzenrevier (“Wildcat Territory”) is a playground outside of the Nature Park Center that is inspired by the territory of a wildcat. Here you can find out for yourself how a wildcat lives, hunts, hides, etc…

Lake Ehmetsklinge is a bathing lake with a large lawn for sunbathing. During the summer months, it is temporarily guarded.

The “Seenrundweg” is a 7 km long hiking trail along the lakes Ehmetsklinge and Katzenbachsee.

Tourist information in the Nature Park Center

In the foyer of the Nature Park Center, visitors can obtain brochures, maps and literature about the nature park, mostly for free.

Hiking in the nature park

Whether alone or in groups – the nature park has a lot to offer for people who love to hike.

Nature Park Guides

Our Nature Park Guides are certified guides for the region of the Stromberg-Heuchelberg. Learn more about geology, landscape, nature and local culture with them. Follow the traces of the history of the region, which was marked by many wars, and experience the peaceful nature with all senses in an exciting and playful way. The tours of the Nature Park Guides therefore are suitable for people of all ages who are interested in nature and culture. The Guides plan an annual program with more than 70 fixed dates - the perfect opportunity for individuals to experience a guided tour. Furthermore, the Guides also offer tours that can be planned individually, that’s why they are ideal for groups such as clubs, schools, kindergartens or companies.

Wander3Klänge

“Just start hiking” is the basic idea of the “Wander3Klänge” in the nature park, which can be translated as “hiking triads”. It refers to over 60 circular hiking trails throughout the entire nature park that are all uniformly labeled. They grant more than 400 km of hiking pleasure and allow visitors to experience the natural oasis on their doorstep in all its diversity.

The unified signposting is of great importance and the trails always start from marked parking lots. Three tours of different lengths all start there: two short tours of three and five kilometers and one long tour between 10 and 20 kilometers. That way, everyone can decide for themselves how long they want to walk. So, choose your parking lot and start your hike into the nature park! Hiking has never been easier.

Culinary in the nature park – Nature Park Markets

At the Nature Park Markets, producers from the region can offer their regional and seasonal products. At the markets, culinary delights, local history, information for the visitors and support for the producers are combined. This offers the ideal chance for collaboration between the regional direct marketers.

You can find everything there, from lamb sausage to apple cake, from seasonal vegetables to homemade liquor. And, of course, the diverse range of local wineries also plays a major role – whether wine, sparkling wine or Secco, everyone can get a taste of the nature park.

There are also stands with information about the products, their cultivation and about the nature park itself. There is also an additional program where you can, for example, pet chickens, go on vineyard tours and more. Nature lovers of all ages can find something here, so the Nature Park Markets definitely are worth a visit