Alb-Donau District: Cave Art, Monasteries and Trails

Cave Art and Monastic History

Near Schelklingen lies Hohle Fels, a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the site where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute” were found. Both finds are around 42,500 years old. Another prehistoric trace is the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein in Blaustein: the Neolithic settlement lies in the Blau valley and is part of the transnational, serial UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.” Archaeological individual finds and the history of a settlement thus offer different ways of exploring prehistory.

The monasteries, too, represent different historical reference points. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085 and today consists mainly of Gothic buildings dating from 1466 to 1510. The former Premonstratensian abbey of Obermarchtal is located in the Alb-Donau District. Its complex rises directly above the Danube and took on its present form between 1686 and 1795. These details highlight the contrast between Blaubeuren’s founding history and the later development of Obermarchtal’s present-day form.

Compare Hiking and Cycling Options

There are 20 circular routes on the “Ice Age Trails”; they are 6 to 14 km long and suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Traces” cover 1 to 6 km. The Path of Contemplation is intended for multi-day tours. The options therefore differ both in their stated distances and in the type of tour they are designed for.

Specific route lengths also offer guidance for cycling: the “Ice Age Valleys” tour is 75 km long, while the “Berg Bier Tour” is 115 km. The “Albtäler” cycling route covers 186 km and has a four-star rating. If you want to plan your trip around your preferred distance, you can compare these three options by length.

Biosphere, Water and Nature

The Alb-Donau District is part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. The Biosphere Information Center in Lauterach offers a water discovery trail. At the Große Lauter, visitors can experience protected shallow-water zones surrounded by nature. The Schelklingen-Hütten Biosphere Information Center presents the area’s flora and fauna, geology and history; it also offers a wild herb garden and a barefoot trail. These experiences have different focuses: enjoying nature by the water and learning about the regional landscape and its history.

In the wider region, canoe tours are offered on the Danube between Riedlingen and Ulm. You can experience the river’s variety, with its secluded and wide-open stretches, as well as storks, red kites and kingfishers. The canoe tours add another way to discover the river landscape alongside hiking and cycling.

When choosing a place to stay, you can first weigh your priorities: archaeological and monastic history, a family-friendly hiking option, day hikes, multi-day tours or cycling routes of varying distances. Search for a holiday apartment based on the themes that matter to your trip. This makes the balance of culture, activity and nature you are looking for the starting point for your plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ulm, Öpfingen, Rammingen, Nellingen, Rottenacker, Obermarchtal, Westerheim, Munderkingen, Schelklingen, Neenstetten, Öllingen, Setzingen, Weidenstetten, Nerenstetten, Staig, Breitingen, Börslingen, Merklingen, Langenau, Laichingen, Kirchen, Blaubeuren, Blaustein, Erbach, Griesingen, Ehingen, Dornstadt, Lonsee, Illerrieden, Amstetten, Asselfingen, Ballendorf, Berghülen, Bernstadt, Heroldstatt, Holzkirch, Dietenheim, Emerkingen, Allmendingen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.