Pfullingen: Monastic history on the edge of the Swabian Alb

Pfullingen lies on the edge of the Swabian Alb, within the UNESCO-awarded Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve, at the entrance to the upper Echaz Valley. The landscape gives the town a distinct setting; at the same time, its cultural sites invite you to combine your interests in nature and history when planning your trip. Highlights include panoramic views, monastic history, traditional milling and water.

Views and scenery on the edge of the Swabian Alb

The Schönbergturm is Germany’s first observation tower built using reinforced concrete. It is 28 metres high and has a panoramic viewing platform offering views across the Swabian Alb. In good weather, the view reaches as far as the Black Forest or Schurwald. Alongside its expansive views, the tower’s construction is a special feature: it brings together a specific engineering history and a striking vantage point. If you want to focus on the landscape during your stay, it is one of Pfullingen’s defining landmarks.

Monastic history and milling traditions

The permanent exhibition “Poverty, Humility, Obedience” is housed in the monastery church and former washhouse. It explores the Pfullingen Poor Clares and their world from 1250 to 1649. The former monastery’s historical heritage also includes the original, preserved medieval speaking grille—the only surviving medieval speaking grille in Europe. If you are particularly interested in monastic and medieval history, you will find two different points of interest here.

Following its renovation, the Baumann Mill is Pfullingen’s last still-operational mill and a cultural monument. It houses the Mill and Traditional Costume Museum. The mill spans four floors and has four pairs of millstones as well as a mill hoist. The Württemberg Traditional Costume Museum displays a collection of rural clothing from the 18th to the 20th century. The garments were originally everyday clothing belonging to private individuals; over several decades, they were collected, brought together, restored and exhibited. The museum is also an information centre for the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve.

Literature, villas and architectural heritage

Literary and architectural history are also among the discoveries to be made in Pfullingen. The historic Neske Library, next to the monastery church, houses a literary exhibition about Günther Neske Verlag. In Villa Laiblin, a documentation centre offers insights into the life and work of Louis Laiblin and his family. It comprises three rooms and an adjoining loggia.

A pavilion dating from 1911/1912 stands in Laiblin Park. It is the only surviving pavilion of at least five garden houses of various designs that once stood here. The Pfullinger Hallen are another cultural monument: they combine a festival hall with a gymnasium. These different landmarks offer distinct ways to explore local history, from literature and family history to architectural heritage.

Monastery lake and excursions

The Monastery Lake is an artificially dammed lake that you can walk all the way around. The millstone by the lake is a reminder of the mills of past centuries. If you look carefully by the water, you may occasionally spot trout in parts of the 2/8 and 1/8 channels when approaching the water cautiously. A walk around the lake and small observations by the water go hand in hand here, without requiring you to spend any particular amount of time.

The Württemberg Traditional Costume Museum has seasonal Sunday opening hours from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, from May to October. If you are planning a visit on a Sunday during this period, you can take this time window into account. Thanks to its location, Pfullingen is considered an ideal starting point for hikes and excursions. When choosing where to stay, you can therefore consider whether panoramic views and outdoor activities or monastic history and museums should play a bigger part in your trip. A holiday apartment in Pfullingen is a suitable option to look into if you are considering the town as a base for excursions like these.

More places to consider when planning your holiday: Sonnenbühl, Sankt Johann, Eningen Unter Achalm, Riederich, Zwiefalten, Grafenberg, Lichtenstein and Trochtelfingen.

See the main travel overview: Reutlingen.