Rickenbach: Zum Energiemuseum und dem geschichtsträchtigen Totenbühl

An eventful hike to the Energy Museum in Hottingen, past the Hännemer Wühre drainage and the old power station to the Schlagsäge, the Totenbühl hill, with wonderful views of the Hotzenwald landscape and the Swiss Alps.

The hike first leads through the 18-hole golf course in the direction of Hottingen to the Energy Museum. Benefiting from its unique location on the high plateau of the "Hotzenwald", the golf course offers a magnificent view of the Swiss Alps. The interesting topography with natural water hazards such as streams, ponds, biotopes, fairways partly lined with fir trees and framed greens is a challenge for golfers of all abilities.The Energy Museum (open Sun 2 to 4 pm, closed Nov. to March) focuses on the use of hydropower in the Hotzenwald. This can be traced back to the 12th century in the Vorderer Hotzenwald, the presumed time of origin of the up to 19 km long water gates (artificial watercourses), which are still in operation today and represent a unique testimony to technical knowledge and skills from the Middle Ages in Germany.

From the installation of the first practically usable overpressure turbine in St. Blasien in 1834, the construction of the run-of-river power plant in Rheinfelden, the creation of the European electricity grid, which began in Laufenburg, the construction of the large pumped storage facilities and cavern power plants of Schluchseewerk AG to the installation of the Straflo turbines in the Laufenburg and Wyhlen Rhine power plants: The region has always been at the forefront with pioneering achievements in the use of hydropower. However, the focus is on mechanical and electrical energy from hydropower and its use via transmissions in old agricultural and domestic machinery.At the Energy Museum there is an opportunity for dogs to cool off in the Murg and take a long swim. After a short time on the Murg Valley Trail, you reach the Schlagsäge and follow the yellow rhombus to Totenbühl, which is 900 meters above sea level. Time for a rest for all two- and four-legged friends. Now you know why you carried your rucksack with snacks, drinks, treats and a water trough.

The Totenbühl is certainly one of the most beautiful spots in the Vorderer Hotzenwald. It offers one of the most magnificent views of the Swiss Alps and the surrounding region. There is a small chapel under old gnarled beech trees, which invites hikers to stop and linger. There was already a lookout tower up here in Roman times, as you have a sweeping view of the surrounding area from here. Its name goes back to the fact that in earlier centuries, the people of Niedergebisbach carried their dead to the cemetery in Rickenbach for burial and had to cross the "Bühl". After the Thirty Years' War, the three beech trees were planted, which are now a nature reserve. In his notes, the poet Victor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886) describes this place as a "place of ghosts and a meeting place for riff-raff, gangs of thieves and all kinds of obscure people". A private individual had a small Marian chapel built there.The hiking route now leads to Altenschwand, over the Roßau and past the tennis court back to the starting point.