Schechingen: Chapel Trail, Mount of Olives Chapel and Easter Fountain

Two trails and a detailed Easter tradition give Schechingen its distinctive character. In the town centre, St. Sebastian’s Church and the Mount of Olives Chapel are the main sights; a Contemplation Trail begins near the Klotzhöfe. Every year, the village fountain on the market square is decorated with real, hand-painted eggs.

Chapel Trail and Mount of Olives Chapel

The Chapel Trail is a 9 km circular route. It begins in the centre of the village at the Catholic Church of St. Sebastian, passes five chapels and ends back at the church, by the Mount of Olives Chapel in the church square. The route thus links the chapels along the trail with a starting and finishing point in the town centre.

The Mount of Olives Chapel stands in the churchyard of St. Sebastian’s Church. Its Baroque figures show Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper while the disciples sleep. St. Sebastian’s Church was built before 1250 as St. Nicholas’ Church. At this same site, the church’s early architectural history meets a Baroque depiction of a scene from the Passion.

Contemplation Trail near the Klotzhöfe

An approximately 4 km Contemplation Trail begins near the Klotzhöfe in the Schechingen district. It was created in 2004 by a private project group from Schechingen. Compared with the 9 km Chapel Trail, its stated route is shorter; the two trails therefore offer different distances to consider when planning your day.

A large part of the Contemplation Trail is wheelchair-accessible and has no significant inclines. The fact that this applies to only a large part of the trail is important for planning. Check the current condition of the surface and access before your visit.

Easter Fountain on the Market Square

The village fountain on the market square, in front of the historic town hall, is decorated with real, hand-painted eggs every year. One display featured 13,397 eggs, including 21 ostrich eggs, 2,051 goose eggs and about 200 quail eggs. The figures show the variety of egg types used in this fountain display. The 25th edition is announced for the period from 20 March to 11 April 2027. If you are planning your trip specifically around the Easter Fountain, check the announced dates before travelling.

More to explore in the Ostalbkreis

The wider Ostalbkreis destination also offers distinct cultural and natural attractions. The Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 and runs for about 6 km through the Rainau municipal area, passing through the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen. Important sections and individual monuments are preserved in a unique concentration in Limes Park Rainau. A reconstructed watchtower offers panoramic views across the Ostalb; the Limes Gate at Dalkingen is a unique structure along the entire Limes route between the Rhine and Danube.

Lorch Abbey offers another cultural and historical focus in the Ostalbkreis. It was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first Hohenstaufen, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as a burial place. The complex includes a medieval church, the cloister, farm buildings and the Marsilius Tower, which offers views of the abbey complex, the herb garden, the sensory garden and the surrounding area. The permanent exhibition explores 900 years of monastic history, including through the richly decorated Lorch choir books.

The Tiefen Stollen visitor mine offers a different kind of discovery: during the visit, the mine train passes through 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. In the Wental Valley, a hike towards Steinheim is particularly suitable for families. From the trail, you can discover gnarled trees and bizarre rock formations in which, with a little imagination, you can make out fairy-tale characters and animals.

Choose the right focus for your accommodation

If the Chapel Trail, Mount of Olives Chapel, Contemplation Trail and Easter Fountain are at the heart of your stay, focus your holiday-apartment search on Schechingen. This makes it easy to distinguish a stay centred on Schechingen’s local attractions from a broader exploration of the Ostalbkreis.

Discover more destinations: Waldstetten, Stödtlen, Oberkochen, Unterschneidheim, Böbingen An Der Rems, Waldhausen, Rosenberg, Lauchheim.

Back to the main travel overview: Ostalbkreis.