Ostalb District: Limes, Monasteries and Trails

Explore the Limes on foot

The signposted Limes circular hiking trail near Rainau is about 11 km long; the walk is estimated to take around 2.5 hours. The trail runs from the Limes wall and the Limes tower between Buch and Schwabsberg through the Mahdholz forest, following the Limes to the southern edge of Schwabsberg. It therefore combines a specific route with visible traces of the Roman frontier. The Dalkingen Limes Gate adds to the experience: it is considered a unique structure along the entire Limes route between the Rhine and the Danube.

Other hiking routes also vary in length and course. Hiking Flower Tour 4, “In the Sea of Rocks”, is 17 km long. It starts at the village hall in Bartholomä and leads through the Sea of Rocks and the Wental valley to the Hirschtal valley near Steinheim. Another route, the 25 km Hiking Flower Tour 2, “At the Pond Meadows”, also starts at the village hall in Bartholomä. It leads across the Pond Meadows to Mount Volkmarsberg, past the source of the Kocher near Oberkochen, through the Tiefental valley and via Tauchenweiler back to Bartholomä. Families with children can enjoy a hike in the Wental valley towards Steinheim that is specifically suitable for families. Along the way, you can spot gnarled trees and rock formations in which, with a little imagination, you might recognise fairytale characters and animals.

Trails for all kinds of exploration

In the Wental valley, a nature trail offers insights into the natural environment of the ancient river valley. For more ideas for excursions, the Ostalb District has three “green path – adventure tours”: “In the Ellwangen Lake District”, “Around the Leintal Valley and Frickenhofer Höhe” and “Härtsfeld”. These different tour names offer a range of themes to consider when planning your trip, so not every excursion needs to have the same focus.

If you prefer cycling, the Ostalb cycling loop is a good guide. It extends for around 305 km and is divided into six stages and nine connecting routes that can be combined to suit your plans. The route passes through the Ostalb District and crosses district boundaries several times; it also runs through the districts of Heidenheim and Rems-Murr and as far as the Bavarian district of Donau-Ries. As a 4-star route certified by the German Cyclists’ Federation, it features continuous signposting and a safe route with little traffic. Other characteristics of such routes include attractive landscapes and facilities along the way, including places to stop for refreshments, accommodation and bicycle services.

Monastic history, museums and mining

Lorch Monastery was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as a burial place. The complex includes a medieval church, the cloister, farm buildings and the Marsilius Tower. From there, visitors can enjoy views of the monastery complex, the herb garden, the sensory garden and the surrounding area. A permanent exhibition tells the story of 900 years of monastic history; it also features the magnificently decorated Lorch choir books.

Another chapter of history awaits at the Tiefen Stollen visitor mine: the mine train travels past mineral deposits and small stalactites into sandstone halls covering 2,500 m², 100 m underground. A multimedia show there introduces the history of ore mining in the Aalen area. A circular route through the maze of tunnels also leads to former underground mining areas, with shafts, loading points and ore-mining chambers.

Kapfenburg Castle also reflects various periods of architecture and style. It was first mentioned in historical records in 1311, has never been destroyed and has been repeatedly adapted to suit the tastes of the time. Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo styles come together there in a distinctive way. Near Bopfingen, the Ipf rises as an isolated hill of the White Jurassic and an important cultural monument, with impressive fortifications. The open-air Celtic site on the Ipf includes a reconstructed burial mound and a pavilion in the form of a Celtic square building, which provides information about Celtic history and the surrounding area.

The Ostalb District has 54 museums and collections, as well as 20 sites with open-air archaeological installations. Museum education programmes run throughout the year; there are also museum festivals, events around International Museum Day in May and museum nights. When choosing where to stay, you can therefore first consider whether you would like to focus mainly on hiking trails, cycling stages, Roman history, monastic culture or museum visits.

For further orientation in the Ostalb District: Neresheim, Lauchheim, Kirchheim am Ries, Ellwangen, Aalen, Heubach, Westhausen, Schechingen, Waldhausen, Neuler, Rainau, Oberkochen, Täferrot, Mutlangen, Obergröningen, Ruppertshofen, Spraitbach, Stödtlen, Tannhausen, Waldstetten, Wört, Heuchlingen, Gschwend, Lorch, Abtsgmünd, Adelmannsfelden, Durlangen, Rosenberg, Unterschneidheim, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Böbingen an der Rems, Bartholomä, Essingen, Jagstzell, Ellenberg, Eschach, Göggingen, Hüttlingen, Leinzell and Bopfingen.

For the broader travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.