Weinheim Exotic Forest

In Germany you usually see giant sequoias as single specimens in a palace park. In the Weinheim Exotic Forest they grow as an entire forest, some now up to 60 m tall. This arboretum on the slope above the old town covers around 60 hectares and is one of the larger ones in Europe. What makes it special is that each species was planted as a whole stand rather than as individual trees, so you can walk through Californian, Japanese or Chilean woodland without leaving Weinheim.

History: a baron's experiment

The forest was founded in 1872 by Baron Christian Friedrich Gustav von Berckheim. He bought several plots totalling about 36 hectares and between 1872 and 1883 had 12,494 trees planted. Some of these stands are among the oldest of their kind in Germany. Of the roughly 150 species in the first planting, about 50 survive. In the 1930s species mainly from Japan and East Asia were added, such as Japanese cedar and the katsura tree. In 1955 the state of Baden-Württemberg bought the forest and enlarged it to its present size. Of around 400 tree and shrub species tried here, about 170 remain.

What to see

• Giant sequoias: The reddish, spongy trunks of the stands planted by the founder are the highlight of any walk.
• Exotics from around the world: Chilean monkey puzzles, Japanese and North American magnolias, Californian incense cedars, tulip trees, swamp cypresses and dawn redwoods.
• Autumn colours: In October, sweetgums, sugar maples and red oaks glow next to the dark conifers.
• Views: From the upper paths you can see Weinheim's two castles, the Windeck ruin and the Wachenburg.

Trails and tours

Three signposted trails lead from the palace park through the forest: the Black Pine Trail (2.4 km), the Exotic Forest Trail (3.1 km) and the Grand Trail (4.4 km). An overview map is posted at the entrances. According to the town, a public tour runs once a month from March to November, and private tours can be booked. Two Actionbound app trails also guide you through the forest.

Opening hours and timing (as of October 2026)

The Exotic Forest is open all year, round the clock, and admission is free. Allow one to one and a half hours for the middle trail. The paths are forest tracks with some climbs and can be slippery after rain, so sturdy shoes are a good idea.

Getting there

The Exotic Forest adjoins Weinheim Palace Park to the south, so you can walk straight in from the old town. Weinheim lies on the Bergstrasse between Heidelberg and Darmstadt. The town's Office of Culture, Tourism and Economy has information on tours.

Tripto tip

Start in the palace park, home to the largest cedar in Germany, then climb along the Exotic Forest Trail. If you have the energy, add the climb to the Windeck castle ruin and look back down over the treetops.