Oberkochen between the history of optics and the Volkmarsberg

Discover the history of optics

The ZEISS Museum of Optics explores the development of major product and technology fields across ten thematic sections—from planetariums to optical lithography. Visitors can try out many of the exhibits themselves, including microscopes and binoculars. There is also a mini-planetarium, which shows an exceptionally realistic starry sky.

The exhibition spans a broad range of topics: on display are modern medical technology devices, a photograph taken by Neil Armstrong with a ZEISS lens during the first moon landing, and one of Napoleon’s telescopes. At the local history museum in the Schillerhaus, large-format photographs, informative models, and a modern presentation complement the exhibition. The museums therefore offer different points of interest, from optical technology to local history.

The Volkmarsberg and hiking trails

At 743 metres, the Volkmarsberg is Oberkochen’s local mountain. The observation tower of the Swabian Alb Association stands amid heathland. On a clear day, the view extends as far as the Alps. The hiking trails around the mountain vary in both length and route.

The 3.4-kilometre Circular Trail 1 follows the paved mountain road to the TSV Oberkochen’s Liftstüble, then turns onto a forest path towards the nature reserve. Circular Trail 2 is seven kilometres long. At 9.5 kilometres, Circular Trail 3 is longer: it follows the edge of the forest towards the source of the Kocher, passes the Hubertus spring and the archaeological monument “Bilzhaus” in the Tiefes Tal, then continues along the edge of the nature reserve to the Volkmarsberg. There is a barbecue area at the Bilzhütte where you can take a break.

Another option is the 9.2-kilometre Hans-Zöllner Trail. It starts at the car park by the source of the Kocher and leads to the source of the Black Kocher, then climbs along the forest. The trail rises steeply over the Borzelhalde and Fuchskohlplatte to the Brunnenebene, which offers views into the valley. The trails’ lengths and routes provide concrete points of comparison; the steep ascent is also a defining feature of the Hans-Zöllner Trail.

Further afield, the signposted Karst Springs Trail runs between Oberkochen and Königsbronn. It connects communities on either side of the European watershed and broadens the range of options beyond the local circular trails.

More destinations in the Ostalbkreis

The Limes adds a distinctive feature to the wider Ostalbkreis destination: in Rainau, sections of the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, survive over a stretch of around six kilometres. The circular Limes hiking trail near Rainau is approximately eleven kilometres long and takes around two and a half hours on foot. Its route runs, among other places, from the Limes wall and Limes tower between Buch and Schwabsberg through the Mahdholz forest to the southern edge of Schwabsberg.

Lorch Abbey is also among the cultural destinations in the Ostalbkreis. It was founded in 1102 by Frederick I and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as a burial place. The permanent exhibition presents 900 years of monastic history, including through the decorated choir books of Lorch. The complex includes a medieval church, the cloister, and farm buildings; the Marsilius Tower offers views of the abbey complex, gardens, and surrounding area. This makes it possible to combine choosing a holiday apartment in Oberkochen with a range of different excursion interests, while destinations across the Ostalbkreis offer a distinct, broader itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Täferrot, Lorch, Waldhausen, Schechingen, Neresheim, Stödtlen, Tannhausen, Jagstzell.

Back to the main travel overview: Ostalbkreis.