Veringenstadt: Lauchert, Caves and History

Town history with distinctive details

The town hall was built in 1415, is considered the oldest town hall in Hohenzollern, and has been in continuous municipal use. The local history museum is located in the town hall. It displays Palaeolithic finds associated with Neanderthals, as well as a witch’s smock and instruments of torture from the 1680 witch trial of Anna Kramer, known as Bader-Ann. The same building therefore brings together evidence from very different chapters of local history.

Another insight into art history can be found at the Strübhaus, the former home and workshop of the Strüb family of painters. Faithful reproductions of the family’s paintings are on display there. The focus also includes medieval painting, from the preparation of pigments to their application to panels. If you are interested in historic painting, this range of topics offers more than simply viewing finished pictures.

Veringen Castle is a ruin on a high ridge encircled by the Lauchert, above St. Nicholas Parish Church. The hilltop castle was probably built between 1100 and 1130 by Count Marquard of the Counts of Veringen; it is mentioned in records in 1134. The Grafensaal and Blauer Saal rooms are also part of the town’s cultural landscape: they host exhibitions and cultural events of all kinds. The former mountain school was extensively renovated and designed according to ideas by artists Ilse Wolf and her daughter Katja Morrison.

Exploring the river and the trails

The “Living Lauchert” riverside path follows the river in a semicircular loop around the historic old town, between the upper and lower Lauchert bridges. Information boards cover various topics related to the river’s origins and uses. The route thus combines outdoor activity with insights into the river’s history, without requiring you to opt for a purely historical visit.

The cave trail offers another hiking option. It leads to five large show caves and explores the idea that Neanderthals and cave bears once shared the same habitat there. Those interested in prehistory can compare this focus with the collections at the local history museum: here, the emphasis is on finds in a museum; there, it is on the caves and the idea of their former habitat.

For planning further outings, the “In the Lauchert Valley” cycling and hiking map includes 26 hiking routes and 10 cycle routes. The trails are very well signposted and maintained by the Swabian Alb Association. The Zillenbiller circular route passes historic sights in Veringenstadt. Depending on your interests, you can choose between hiking routes, cycle routes and a circular route with historic stops, rather than exploring everything in the same way.

A town and museum tour also brings several topics together. It includes visits to the local history museum, the mountain school and the Strübhaus, information about Veringenstadt’s caves, and a walk along the “Living Lauchert” riverside path. If you like to explore different themes during a stay, the tour shows how culture, caves and the river stand alongside one another as topics in Veringenstadt.

Choose the right focus for your holiday

When looking for a holiday apartment in Veringenstadt, you can consider which of these discoveries you would like to shape your trip. The town hall, local history museum, Strübhaus and castle each offer different points of interest for art and history. If you would rather spend time on hiking or cycling routes, the cycling and hiking map offers a wider choice of tours; the riverside path and cave trail each have their own focus. These interests can help you choose Veringenstadt as a destination with the mix of culture and activities you want, without combining the individual attractions into a single excursion.

Discover more places

More local pages: Meßkirch, Beuron, Wald, Scheer, Krumbach, Waldbeuren, Herbertingen and Sauldorf.

For the overarching travel overview: Sigmaringen.