Dornstadt: Forest Trails, Kiesental and St Martin’s Church

Forest Trails and Nature

At the hiking car park at Oberer Forst in the Dornstadt district, walkers can follow the edge of the forest for several kilometres or walk through the forest. The forest adventure trail is a walk of about an hour and a half for all ages, with activity and information stations about the forest. At the “Tree Slice” station, you can determine a tree’s age from its annual rings. This makes a detail of nature immediately tangible: your gaze shifts from the forest as a whole to the traces in an individual tree trunk.

At the “Tree Telephone,” children can send Morse code from one side of a tree trunk to the other by tapping gently. The forest also has three signposted running and jogging routes of different lengths. The walking route, information stations and running routes each offer a distinct way to enjoy outdoor activity and explore the forest.

There are three public barbecue areas in the Dornstadt municipal area, each with a fire ring, grill grate and seating. Important for planning: they may only be used with advance registration.

Kiesental: Landscape and Nature Stations

Kiesental in Bollingen offers a different perspective on the landscape. It is a former stream or river valley that is now dry, having dried out over time. Juniper heaths and numerous deciduous and coniferous tree species shape the area. The Bioversum Bollingen biodiversity trail includes one station about the juniper heath and another about the nutrient-poor meadow. During your visit, you can focus on two specific landscape features: the heath and the meadow.

The history of Nordic walking in the valley also has a clear date: three routes were designated there in 2009. Sports clubs from Bollingen and Blaustein worked on the project together with the German Ski Association. The three Nordic walking routes offer a separate activity alongside the natural attractions of Kiesental.

St Martin’s Church and Cultural History

The listed St Martin’s Church in Tomerdingen is owned by the municipality of Dornstadt and is used for church services, weddings, baptisms and concerts. During guided tours and visits, visitors can learn about the church’s long history. If you would like to combine nature experiences with cultural history, this offers a different focus from the forest trails or Kiesental.

The history of local events can also be pinpointed to two dates: the “Citizens Make a Programme for Fellow Citizens” working group was founded by volunteers in June 2012. Its first event, featuring Blechimpuls, took place at the Hilscher company’s premises in October 2013. These dates offer a concrete insight into how this voluntary initiative began.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Dornstadt, your planned focus can help guide your choice: forest walks and running routes, the landscape and nature stations in Kiesental, or the history and use of St Martin’s Church each offer a different emphasis for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Westerheim, Illerrieden, Weidenstetten, Bernstadt, Staig, Amstetten, Breitingen, Laichingen

For the broader travel overview: Alb-Donau District.