Esslingen: Landscapes, Fossils and Roman History

With orchard landscapes, fossils, Roman history and outdoor activities, the Esslingen district offers several distinct reasons to visit. When choosing a holiday apartment in Esslingen, it helps to first consider your interests for the trip.

Landscapes and the Geopark

Six distinct landscape areas shape the Esslingen district: the Schurwald, the Schönbuch, the Filder plain, the Neckar Valley, the foothills of the Swabian Alb and the Albtrauf escarpment. The orchard landscape, with 1.5 million fruit trees, also shapes the scenery. The district is one of the ten districts in the Swabian Alb Geopark. This regional setting combines diverse landscapes with specific themes for excursions and visits.

Fossils in Holzmaden

The Hauff Museum of Prehistory displays fossils from the Posidonia Shale and is located in the heart of the Holzmaden fossil site. With around 1,000 m² of exhibition space, it is one of Germany’s largest private natural history museums. For anyone interested in fossils, it brings together a natural history collection and a direct connection to the site where the fossils were found. Holzmaden is therefore a clearly defined focus for a visit centered on geological history and fossils.

Roman history in Köngen

In the wider travel region of Baden-Württemberg, Römerpark Köngen is located on the site of the former Roman fort of Grinario. The Roman park consists of a museum building and an open-air site. The Romans built the fort between 90 and 95 AD, abandoned it in 155, and afterwards local villagers used it, among other things, to build a Roman bath. Köngen’s focus on Roman history thus offers a different perspective on the region’s past from Holzmaden’s natural history theme.

Landscape themes in Beuren

The Beuren Open-Air Museum offers a themed trail with 18 stops covering natural and cultural landscapes, orchard varieties and cultivated plants. Guided tours are regularly offered at the Beuren Soil Trail; the soil profile pits are accessible from April to October. The two attractions have different focuses: the themed trail explores landscapes and plants, while the profile pits are a seasonally accessible part of the Soil Trail. If you plan to visit these sites, the April-to-October period is important for access to the profile pits.

Cycling and cross-country skiing

Since 2020, cyclists in the Esslingen district have had around 1,200 kilometres of district cycling routes at their disposal. The entire district has continuous bicycle route signage. When there is enough snow, the district offers three cross-country ski trails. The options therefore differ mainly according to conditions: cyclists can use a district-wide network of signposted routes, while cross-country skiing is possible when there is sufficient snow.

Choose accommodation to match your reason for travelling

When looking for a holiday apartment in Esslingen, your preferred focus can help determine where to stay: Holzmaden is known for fossils, Köngen for Roman history, and Beuren for landscape and plant themes. If cycling is a priority, you can factor the district’s route network into your plans; for cross-country skiing, snow conditions are decisive. First consider whether museums, archaeological history, landscapes or outdoor activities will shape your stay.

Discover more places

Discover more destinations: Neuhausen auf den Fildern, Plochingen, Nürtingen, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Kirchheim unter Teck, Großbettlingen, Esslingen, Altbach, Ostfildern, Weilheim an der Teck, Wernau, Nellingen, Reichenbach an der Fils, Wolfschlugen, Ohmden, Neckartenzlingen, Wendlingen, Neuenhaus, Neuffen, Owen, Deizisau, Oberboihingen, Holzmaden, Neidlingen, Frickenhausen, Köngen, Lenningen, Aichtal, Denkendorf, Beuren, Erkenbrechtsweiler, Bissingen an der Teck, Bempflingen, Dettingen unter Teck and Filderstadt.

For the wider travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.