Birkenau (Birkenau) — a historic german town & municipality in Hesse at 150 m elevation, served by Heidelberg Hbf.
Why Visit Birkenau (Birkenau)
Birkenau is a historic german town & municipality in Hesse. Renowned for Birkenau Historic Center & Marktplatz, Birkenau Historic Altstadt, Marktplatz & Rathaus, Birkenau Parish Church (Stadtkirche), Timbered Lanes & Town Gates, Hesse Regional Museum, Brauhaus & River/Forest Promenade in Birkenau, Hesse Architecture & Gastronomy, Birkenau rewards travelers over 1–3 days with walkable historic squares, regional markets, and easy rail links via Heidelberg Hbf.
Best Neighborhoods & Quarters in Birkenau
Birkenau Altstadt & Marktplatz Quarter
Key historic quarter and dining area in Birkenau.
Birkenau Bahnhofsviertel (DB Rail & Regional Bus Hub)
Key historic quarter and dining area in Birkenau.
Birkenau Stadtpark, Wine/River Terrace & Heritage Lanes
Key historic quarter and dining area in Birkenau.
Top Sights & Things to Do in Birkenau
- Birkenau Historic Altstadt, Marktplatz & Rathaus — signature landmark and cultural highlight in Birkenau.
- Birkenau Parish Church (Stadtkirche), Timbered Lanes & Town Gates — signature landmark and cultural highlight in Birkenau.
- Hesse Regional Museum, Brauhaus & River/Forest Promenade in Birkenau — signature landmark and cultural highlight in Birkenau.
Local Food & Where to Eat in Birkenau
In Birkenau (Hesse), traditional German bakery culture—featuring crusty sourdough Brot, warm Brötchen, and afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen—meets classic Hesse (Hessen) Gasthaus and Brauhaus dining. Expect hearty seasonal menus priced around €14–€26 for a main course, plus €0.08–€0.25 refundable Pfand on bottled drinks.
Signature Local & Regional Dishes to Try
- Frankfurter Grüne Soße: Chilled seven-herb sour cream sauce (borage, chervil, cress, parsley, pimpinelle, sorrel, chives) over boiled potatoes and hard-boiled eggs.
- Handkäse mit Musik: Tangy sour-milk cheese marinated in raw onions, vinegar, oil, and caraway seeds, served with dark country bread.
- Frankfurter Rindswurst & Bethmännchen: Pure-beef smoked sausage and marzipan-almond pastries.
Recommended Dining Quarters, Markets & Brauhäuser in Birkenau
Birkenau Altstadt & Marktplatz Gasthäuser
Family-run taverns and historic inns in the walkable center of Birkenau serving regional Hesse (Hessen) dishes (€14–€26).
Birkenau Traditional Bäckerei & Konditorei
Neighborhood bakeries offering warm morning Brötchen, pretzels (Brezeln), and afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen.
Food markets & dining streets: Kleinmarkthalle Frankfurt & Rüdesheim Wine Cellars · Regional drinks: Apfelwein (Ebbelwoi served from a blue-grey Bembel jug) & Rheingau Riesling
Getting to Birkenau & Local Transit
By Train: Heidelberg Hbf. Check our DB ICE & BahnCard Calculator (€) and €58 Deutschlandticket Calculator to compare Super Sparpreis fares with regional passes. By Air: Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
Closest Neighboring Towns to Birkenau
Combine Birkenau with these nearby German towns calculated by direct geographic distance:
- Weinheim (3.3 km away)
- Mörlenbach (4.5 km away)
- Hemsbach (5.3 km away)
- Hirschberg an der Bergstraße (7.1 km away)
- Rimbach (8 km away)
More Cities & Towns in Hesse
Explore other destinations across Hesse:
Frankfurt am Main · Rüdesheim am Rhein · Frankfurt am Main · Wiesbaden · Kassel · Darmstadt · Offenbach · Gießen · Hanau am Main · Marburg an der Lahn · Fulda · Rüsselsheim am Main