Donzdorf: Palace Garden, Fasnet and the Messelberg Tour

Palace and Garden at the Heart of the Town

The palace was built in the Renaissance style in the 16th century and forms the town centre. The listed palace garden, covering around four hectares, lies directly to the south. Its design has changed over the centuries: a Baroque garden evolved into an English landscape garden. Together, the palace and garden bring different historical influences together in a central location in Donzdorf.

Ten QR-code stations in the palace park introduce visitors to the habitat of green spaces in built-up areas and its diverse inhabitants. The route is largely accessible year-round and is also easy to navigate with a wheelchair, rollator or pushchair. In winter, some paths or stations may have limited access depending on the weather. This is useful to bear in mind when planning a day out in the park with people who have different mobility needs.

A restaurant has been housed in the palace since 1995. If you’re interested in seeing inside the building, you can request a group tour; these tours are available on request at any time. The palace garden is also the starting point for an astronomical educational trail of around seven kilometres. It adds a topic of its own to a visit to the park and offers another way to shape your stay in Donzdorf.

Hiking Along the Albtrauf

For an active day out, try the Löwenpfad “Messelberg Tour”. Certified by the German Hiking Association, this circular trail is classed as a “dream tour”, is 7.7 kilometres long and starts at the Messelberg hikers’ car park. It follows narrow paths along the Albtrauf for almost its entire length. Natural deciduous forests and colourful flower meadows are part of the scenery, along with panoramic views.

Highlights include the views from Messelstein and Rötelstein. The tour’s main viewpoint is the conspicuous Weißjura rock peak of Messelstein, at an elevation of 748 metres. With a little luck, you may find ammonite fossils along the trail. The distance and the narrow-path character of the route are useful points of reference when deciding whether this hike fits your travel plans. It is quite different from a visit to the palace park, whose circuit is largely accessible.

Festivals, Music and Open-Air Cinema

Culture and events also give Donzdorf its own rhythm. Donzdorf Fasnet, especially the big parade on Shrove Sunday, is a highlight of the annual programme. During the fifth season, the town is also known as “Little Paris”. Visiting Donzdorf at this time lets you experience the town through its Fasnet tradition, with the parade offering a specific reason to plan a trip.

The PREMIO Donzdorf, a top-level competition to find the best pianist, takes place in early September. In the eastern palace courtyard, the summer cinema offers an open-air experience against the backdrop of Donzdorf Palace. The town festival takes place around the palace grounds. Different interests can therefore influence your choice of travel dates: music, the town festival, Fasnet and cinema are distinct reasons to visit, rather than simply more items on a sightseeing itinerary.

“Schloss.Garten.Genuss – The Market for Special Things” is aimed at garden lovers, food enthusiasts and Sunday strollers. The event takes place every two years on the third Sunday in June. If you’d like to plan a visit around it, bear this schedule in mind. Donzdorf offers both recurring cultural events and outdoor experiences in and around the palace, each with its own focus.

Discover More Destinations

If you’re also considering other places for your trip, you can discover Wiesensteig, Bad Ditzenbach, Bad Boll, Aichelberg, Heiningen, Gruibingen, Hohenstadt and Ottenbach as well.

For the wider travel overview: Göppingen.