Location and landscape
Ottenhöfen in the Black Forest lies in the upper reaches of the Achertal in the north-east of the Ortenau district in Baden-Württemberg and forms part of the natural region unit of the Northern Black Forest. The municipal area extends from elevations of 351.48 to 1,162.21 metres. More than half of the area is densely wooded.
Natural environment and geology
Parts of the nature reserves Gottschlägtal–Karlsruher Grat and Schliffkopf belong to the municipal area. The area around Karlsruher Grat and Gottschlägtal has a cool, damp climate. Geologically, Ottenhöfen lies in the crystalline basement of the Northern Black Forest; among the documented rocks are Oberkircher granite and porphyry. At the Breitfelsen, slowly weathering porphyry forms a thin layer of humus and a comparatively dry site.
Winegrowing in the Achertal
In the landscape of the Achertal, alongside meadows, orchard meadows and woods, there are also vineyards. Ottenhöfen is part of the winegrowing landscape of the region Baden.
Historical development
Ottenhöfen was first mentioned in 1419 as Ottenhofen, and in 1817 it became an independent political municipality. The area came to Baden in 1803. In 1973, Ottenhöfen was assigned to the Ortenau district and the previously independent municipality of Furschenbach was incorporated.
