Tuttlingen Between the Danube, the Swabian Alb and Special Discoveries
Accommodation in Tuttlingen
In Tuttlingen district, the valley of the young Danube, the southwestern foothills of the Swabian Alb and parts of the Baar region meet. White limestone cliffs rise in the Danube Valley; to the north, juniper heaths and the “10-Thousanders” region shape the landscape. This is where ten mountains over 1,000 metres high are found. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by asking whether you want to focus your stay on landscapes and trails, culture or exceptional natural phenomena.
The Danube Valley and Unusual Natural Phenomena
The Danube gorge and the Höwenegg volcanic crater are among the district’s scenic highlights. Another special stop is the Danube Sink between Immendingen, Möhringen, Tuttlingen and Fridingen. What the Danube looks like there can vary from day to day: at times it carries plenty of water, at various spots it is completely dry, or it carries only a little water. If you are interested in this natural phenomenon, expect changing impressions rather than assuming the view will always be the same.
There is a remarkable feature underground, too: In October 2022, the Mühlheim rock cave became the first cave on the Swabian Alb to be designated a Geopoint by the UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb. Mühlheim an der Donau is also a place to begin exploring the area on two wheels: it lies directly on the International Danube Cycle Path. The route runs all the way to the Danube’s mouth at the Black Sea and can also be ridden in short stages. Mühlheim is also part of the Upper Danube Nature Park.
Routes for Different Interests
For a hike along the Danube Sink, the “Donauversinkung” premium trail of the DonauWellen runs between Tuttlingen-Möhringen and Immendingen. The final section of the Albsteig leads over Rußberg, Bettelmannskeller and the Nonnehöhle near Wurmlingen directly to Tuttlingen. If you are looking for a clearly specified, shorter route, Tuttlingen-Nendingen has the two-kilometre “Rock- & Roll-Tour”. It is largely barrier-free and fully wheelchair-accessible.
Climbing enthusiasts will also find a specific option: At Rabenfels in the Bäratal valley, the climbing areas between the “Mister Wendl” and “Gebrüderweg” routes are open from 1 August to 31 December. In Geisingen, the arena offers a 30,000-square-metre outdoor area with a road course, beer garden, slacklining, beach volleyball court and other facilities. These different options suit different types of holiday; when choosing where to stay, consider which experiences you would like to focus on.
Museums, History and Events
The Neuhausen ob Eck open-air museum features 25 historic buildings that were dismantled at their original locations, moved to the museum and restored to their original condition. The museum thus makes historic buildings themselves its focus. In Fridingen, the museum in the Künstlerhaus Scharf Eck presents the life and work of Hans Bucher, the painter of the Danube Valley, across three floors. The Upper Danube Museum in Ifflinger Castle combines temporary exhibitions with permanent exhibitions on the town’s history and lordship, archaeology, carnival and more recent history. If you like to include museum visits in your stay, these museums offer different historical and cultural perspectives.
Another cultural destination is Tuttlingen’s Honberg-Sommer: the annual festival takes place in the ruins of Honberg Castle and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. In Mühlheim’s historic upper town, night-watchman tours take place on Saturdays and, during the season from May to October, also on Mondays at 9 pm; the meeting point is at the town hall. For planning your holiday, it helps to consider the specific event focus: you can decide whether to plan your trip around a festival or a tour through Mühlheim’s history.
Getting Here and Choosing Where to Stay
Tuttlingen is an InterCity stop on the route from Stuttgart and Zurich. Tuttlingen, Mühlheim and Fridingen are also stations on the Ulm–Donaueschingen/Freiburg railway line. If you plan to travel by train, these three towns can therefore serve as possible starting points for your search. The towns’ rail connections do not replace the decision about which landscape or experience matters most for your stay.
A simple way to choose a holiday apartment is to ask yourself: Would you mainly like to explore the Danube Valley’s trails and natural phenomena, plan cycling stages, or visit museums and events? Your answers will point to different holiday experiences within the district. If you have several interests, decide which one should determine the location before you start searching.
Places in Tuttlingen District
Discover the places in the district, too: Balgheim, Geisingen, Gunningen, Immendingen, Irndorf, Königsheim, Kolbingen, Dürbheim, Durchhausen, Egesheim, Spaichingen, Rietheim-Weilheim, Wehingen, Tuttlingen, Gosheim, Bubsheim, Buchheim, Denkingen, Emmingen, Deilingen, Frittlingen, Böttingen, Fridingen An Der Donau, Bärenthal, Möhringen, Nendingen, Talheim, Mühlheim An Der Donau, Schura, Trossingen, Neuhausen Ob Eck, Aldingen, Mahlstetten, Wurmlingen, Reichenbach Am Heuberg, Renquishausen, Seitingen-Oberflacht and Hausen.
For the higher-level travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.
