Birkenfeld: Cider Press History and Trails on Kesselberg

Cider press, market and trails near Gräfenhausen

The cider press building in Gräfenhausen, a district of Birkenfeld, dates back to the 16th century. Its age gives local history a specific point of reference. For travellers who want to include historic sites as well as landscapes in their plans, a visit to the building can be linked to a particular district.

The Gräfenhausen cider press hosts the cider press market. From April to November, it regularly offers regional and seasonal food on the last Friday of each month; this schedule refers to the 2026 market calendar. If you are planning a visit, check the date for your chosen month. This way, you can include the market as a seasonal event rather than assuming it is available year-round.

Kesselberg lies between Gräfenhausen and Keltern. From there, you can enjoy views across orchards. Winding hiking and walking trails pass through the nature park, which has numerous small wetland habitats. The experiences on offer are therefore distinct: the cider press building focuses on local history and architectural age, while Kesselberg is about landscape, trails and small wetland habitats. Planning your trip around these interests can make it easier to decide which themes to prioritise during your stay.

Birkenfeld in the wider Enzkreis travel destination

The Enzkreis district lies in the Northern Black Forest region, in the heart of Baden-Württemberg, between the urban areas of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, and surrounds the independent city of Pforzheim. This regional context expands the view beyond the local examples in Gräfenhausen and on Kesselberg. The landscapes of the Enzkreis are varied: in the northwest, the district is part of the Kraichgau, where fields, meadows and vineyards shape the scenery.

The descriptions of the other landscapes also highlight different features. The Stromberg in the Enzkreis has wooded heights, gentle valleys and sunny vineyards. In the Heckengäu, juniper heaths, blackthorn and hawthorn hedges shape the rugged landscape. In the southwest, the Northern Black Forest opens up, with dense fir forests, forest meadows, broad plateaus and narrow valleys. These differences offer guidance for anyone who wants to plan a stay that goes beyond a single type of landscape.

Hiking trails and culture in the Enzkreis

Regional hiking options include the signposted panoramic circular trail in Freudenstein-Hohenklingen. It runs over the hills and through vineyards and forests around the village. The Eppingen Lines Trail offers a different focus: it is an artistic and historical hiking trail with installations between Eppingen and Mühlacker. The two trail descriptions differ mainly in their focus—one is a scenic loop around a village, while the other is a trail with artistic and historical stops between two towns.

The Enzkreis also has cultural attractions and industrial history. Neuenbürg Castle houses a branch museum of the Baden State Museum. The tour there begins in the north wing with an immersive theatrical staging of Wilhelm Hauff’s fairy tale “The Cold Heart.” Neuenbürg is also home to the “Frischglück” mine, one of the old iron ore mines in the Northern Black Forest. These examples offer a different focus from the cider press in Gräfenhausen, moving from local history to museum theatre and mining history.

You can decide whether to focus on the cider press, the cider press market and the trails on Kesselberg, or also include landscapes, hiking trails and culture in the wider Enzkreis in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Straubenhardt, Engelsbrand, Neuenbürg.

Back to the main travel overview: Enzkreis.