Laichingen: Tiefenhöhle and Westerlauh

Tiefenhöhle: the route to the Great and Small Halls

The descent into Laichinger Tiefenhöhle begins via a metal ladder: visitors descend 40 metres to the first “Great Hall.” The visitor route then leads to the “Small Hall,” 55 metres below ground. This is the deepest point of the cave accessible to visitors. The two halls make the route itself an experience—not just the destination at the end of the descent.

The visitor route is part of the well-known cave system. Today, a total of around 1,300 metres of cave passages are known; around 330 metres of them are accessible as a show cave. Those interested in geology can thus get a concrete sense of how an accessible section compares with the entire known cave system.

Westerlauh in Laichingen and the Cave Studies Museum near Laichingen

Westerlauh is a municipal forest and local recreation area in Laichingen. Its facilities include enclosures for deer and wild boar, an arboretum, a woodland classroom, a barbecue area and a playground. This offers a range of ways to spend time outdoors among animal enclosures, trees and a place of learning. As facilities may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before visiting.

Another subject is explored at the Cave Studies Museum at Tiefenhöhle near Laichingen. It explains karstification in the Swabian Jura and how its caves formed. This adds geological context to the cave experience: at Tiefenhöhle, the route leads underground, while the museum focuses on the processes behind caves like these.

Hiking, cycling and cultural attractions in the Alb-Donau district

The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district offers a choice of route lengths. The 20 circular routes on the “Ice Age Trails” are 6 to 14 kilometres long and are suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Tracks” range from 1 to 6 kilometres; the Reflection Path is designed for multi-day tours. These options differ both in length and in the time they require.

There are also different distances to choose from for cycling: the “Ice Age Valleys” route is 75 kilometres long, while the “Berg Bier Tour” is 115 kilometres. The “Albtäler” cycle route covers 186 kilometres and has been awarded four stars. These figures help distinguish regional options by the distance you want to cover.

The cultural attractions in the Alb-Donau district range from prehistoric finds to monastic architecture. Hohle Fels near Schelklingen is 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. The Ehrenstein Stone Age Village in Blaustein is a Neolithic settlement in the Blau Valley and is part of the transnational serial UNESCO World Heritage site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”

The region’s monasteries reflect a different time period. Blaubeuren Abbey was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085; its present-day buildings are predominantly Gothic and date from 1466 to 1510. The former Premonstratensian abbey of Obermarchtal stands directly above the Danube. Its monastic complex acquired its present form between 1686 and 1795.

Which holiday apartment suits your travel plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Laichingen, you can first consider whether Tiefenhöhle, Westerlauh and the Cave Studies Museum should be the focus of your stay in the area. This puts the experiences you would like to discover during your stay first.

Discover more destinations: Bernstadt, Nellingen, Rammingen, Kirchen, Rottenacker, Berghülen, Obermarchtal, Westerheim.

Return to the wider travel overview: Alb-Donau district.