Beautiful LÄND: Explore the Swabian Alb - Hikes and Sights  [12.08.22]

You may have noticed: Germans like to go hiking in their free time. There are countless TikToks about it. But why don't you try it yourself? You'll love it!

 Exploring the Swabian Alb

1. Sleeping Beauty's Castle - Lichtenstein Castle
Lichtenstein Castle was built in 1390 on the present site and in the course of history lost some of its importance and fell into disrepair. In 1840, inspired by the novel 'Lichtenstein' by Wilhelm Hauff, it was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style, the only one in the world based on a novel. The lord of the castle since 1991 is Duke Wilhelm Albert von Urach, one of the descendants of the builder. This family is a collateral line of the House of Württemberg (since about 1495), which ruled Baden-Württemberg until 1918. In 2009, the castle was the filming location of the German fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty". Nowadays, you can visit the castle from April to October from 9 am - 5:30 pm for an entrance fee of 3 €. Guided tours take place every 20 minutes for about 10 €.  
You can reach Lichtenstein Castle by car or by public transport from Stuttgart main station, for example, if you take the RB 18 (direction Tübingen) to Reutlingen and then bus 400 (direction Gammertingen) to Honau Lichtenstein (Württ.). From here you can walk directly to the castle, which takes about 30 minutes for 2.6 km path.  
Another possibility would be to go on one of the many hikes around Lichtenstein Castle. We have picked out a possible hike for you here.   

Hike example: Fairytale round from Lichtenstein Castle to the Goldloch (circular hiking trail)  
Length: 9,3 km
Duration: approx. 3 h (or more...)
Difficulty: difficult  
The starting point of the route is Lichtenstein Castle, then it continues to the castle ruins of Alt-Lichtenstein, which was built around the 12th century. It goes down into the valley past the Echaz springs, which flow to the river Neckar and up again to the Kassenfels. At 788 m we go up to enjoy the view from the Breitenstein and Gießstein. Staying at altitude, the trail continues along forest and meadow edges to the Goldloch on the Albtrauf, a protected geotope as well as an unexplored cave can be found here. It is said to bring luck in money matters to kiss the foot of the Madonna standing here. Afterwards it goes back to the starting point.
Find out more: www.ich-geh-wandern.de/maerchenhafte-runde-vom-schloss-lichtenstein-zum-goldloch  

2. Over 800 years of History - Hohenneuffen Castle
Hohenneuffen castle was built in 1198 at an altitude of 745 meters and in the 15th century it was named one of the seven state fortresses of Württemberg. It is the largest castle ruin in the Swabian Alb. In 1948 the castle became a meeting place for representatives of the three states of Baden, Württemberg-Hohenzollern, and Württemberg-Baden, which were created after occupation, and from which the state of Baden-Württemberg was founded in 1952. Nowadays the castle can be visited from April to October on Mondays, Tuesdays, Sundays, and holidays from 9 am - 7 pm, Wednesdays, Thursdays, as well as Fridays and Saturdays from 9 am - 10 pm. The castle has a beer garden with a breathtaking view over the town of Neuffen and the surrounding Swabian Alb.  
Access is possible by car or public transport. From Stuttgart main station you can take the RB 18 (direction Tübingen) to Nürtingen and then the WEG RB 65 to Neuffen. From here it is about 50 minutes’ walk to the castle. On weekends there are also shuttle buses to the parking lot Hohenneuffen, from here it takes about 20 minutes to walk.
There are many hiking trails around Neuffen and the castle.

Hiking example: Hochgehkeltert: Through vineyards and heath at Hohenneuffen (circular hiking trail)  
Length: 7,15 km
Duration: 2.5 h (or more...)
Difficulty: difficult  
Starting point is the hiking parking lot Schelmenwasen. There is an ascent through the forest to the castle Hohenneuffen. Continue through the forest to the Hohenneuffen hiking parking lot and along the Albtrauf. Past the Barnberg cave, where human skeletons from the Neolithic period were discovered. Downhill the hike leads along the state road L1250 past the edge of the forest and the hiking parking lot Bei den Linden back into the forest. At the foot of the Hohenneuffen you hike through the Neuffener Heide to the highest vineyard in Germany. From there it goes back to the starting point.
Find out more: www.ich-geh-wandern.de/hochgehkeltert-durch-weinberge-und-heide-am-hohenneuffen  

3. Mystical waters - Blautopf 
Many stories have been told about the piercing blue color of the Blautopf. It is said that the color was created by the daily addition of ink dye. It was also believed that the Blautopf was bottomless. A mermaid who lived in the Blautopf is said to have repeatedly sabotaged attempts to measure the depth using a lead plumb bob by stealing the weight. In fact, the Blautopf is about 19 meters deep and the blue color comes from the light scattering of lime particles contained in the water. Thus, depending on the incidence of light, the Blautopf has a more or less luminous intense blue color. The Blautopf is a karst spring with an approximately 40 m2 wide spring pot. The water flows out through an underground cave system. The Blautopf is surrounded by a 200-year-old mill and a hammer mill.  
You can reach the Blautopf by car or by public transport. For example, you can take the RE 5 (direction Lindau-Reutin) from Stuttgart main station to Ulm main station and then take the RE 55 (direction Villingen) to Blaubeuren.    

Hiking trail example: Blausteiner Circular Trail  
Length: 8,4 km
Duration: 2.5 h
Difficulty: medium  
Start of the hike is the mobile home site at the Lixhalle zur Blau. The Blau is the river whose source is the Blautopf. It ends in the upper Donau. It goes past a quarry and down the Blausteinblick. You reach Herrlingen and the Villa Lindendorf, which is built in Art Nouveau style. Via a trail you arrive at the foot of the castle Klingenstein from 1215. It goes from here to the district Klingenstein and over rails past the church St. Josef. From there it goes back to the starting point. 
Find out more: www.ich-geh-wandern.de/blausteiner-rundweg  

4. Who needs Neuschwanstein? - Hohenzollern Castle!
Around the 11th century, Hohenzollern Castle was first built at 855 meters and was completely destroyed in 1423. In 1454 it was rebuilt and fell into ruin until the 19th century. In 1850 it was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style with the support of the then King Frederick William IV. Nowadays the castle is still private property. It belongs to about two-thirds of the Brandenburg-Prussian line of the House of Hohenzollern and to one-third of the Swabian line. Since 1994 the owner of the castle is Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia, he is also the head of the House of Hohenzollern.
The castle grounds can be visited daily from 10 am - 6:30 pm, and the interiors from 10 am – 6 pm. Ticket purchase is recommended online. Here, student tickets are available for about 12 € (student ID). In addition, there is a free castle app that serves as an audio guide.
The journey is possible by car or public transport. For example, at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof you can take the RE 5 (direction Lindau-Reutin) to Plochingen and then the IRE 6 (direction Bisingen) to Hechingen. From here, take bus 306 to Hohenzollern Castle.

Hiking example: Hohenzollern Castle circular hiking trail
Length: 5,8 km
Duration: 2 h (or more)
Difficulty: medium  
The starting point here is the castle parking lot, from where you walk to Hohenzollern Castle, then through the forest to the cemetery with the pilgrimage church of Maria Zell from the 15th century. The Zellerbach is crossed, and it goes past the Boller Wasen through orchard meadows. At Boll, the Zellerbach is crossed again and through meadows and forest you get back to the starting point.

 

Consider the weater when you go on a hike! Bring enough to drink and eat, and pack a rain coat, sunscreen or a hat.

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