Kehl

Kehl is a city on the River Rhine, in the Ortenau region of Germany west of the Black Forest and immediately east of Strasbourg.

Understand

Kehl is the German part of the metropolitan region centred on the French city of Strasbourg. The two cities are divided by the River Rhine, but connected by a pedestrian bridge (the Passerelle des Deux Rives), and by road, rail and tram links. Because of its geographic location, over the course of history, Kehl has been attacked, destroyed and rebuilt many times. After the First and Second World Wars, the city was part of France for several years.

The city is in the mouth of the Baden Rhine valley, a few kilometres from the confluence of the Kinzig into the Rhine

• 1 Kork. picturesque suburb, formerly an independent town, has several historic buildings, and its own railway station.  

Get in

For long distance travel, see Strasbourg.

By train

Besides trains to Strasbourg there are also train stations in Kehl and Kork, with services from Strasbourg and Offenburg.

• 2 Kehl station.  
• 3 Kork station.  

By tram

Line D of the Strasbourg tram system crosses the Rhine from France and serves Kehl's railway station, university and town hall. Journey time from Homme de Fer in central Strasbourg is 20-25 min. Since Germany and France both belong to the Schengen Area, the crossing is seamless and you don't need to take a passport.

See

• 1 Water tower (Wasserturm). A landmark.  
• 2 Town Hall (Rathaus). Weinbrenner style. 
• 3 Two Shores Garden (Garten der zwei Ufer / Jardin des Deux Rives). A park straddling the border with an impressive pedestrian bridge over the Rhine. 
• 4 Passerelle des Deux Rives (Passerelle Mimram). The banks of the Rhine in Kehl and Strasbourg are connected by this cable-stayed bridge designed the French architect Mimram and opened in 2004. It is considered a work of contemporary art. 
• St. Nepomuk Altrhein. Church. 
• 5 Deutsches Epilepsiemuseum (Museum of Epilepsy). (updated May 2020)
• 6 Weißtannenturm. 24/7. An observation tower with views of the Rhine, the Black Forest, and France. Free of charge. (updated May 2023)

Sleep

• 1 DJH Jugendherberge Kehl, Altrheinweg 11, ☏ +49 7851 2330. (updated Jan 2016)

Cope

Consulates

• Several in neighbouring Strasbourg

Go next

• Strasbourg, which lies adjacent.
• Offenburg