Zollernalb District: Castles, Trails and Landscapes

Experience Hohenzollern Castle and culture

Today’s Hohenzollern Castle is the third fortress on Zollerberg. It belongs to the municipality of Bisingen and is located within the district of Zimmern. After its two predecessors were destroyed and fell into disrepair, it was rebuilt between 1850 and 1867. The castle is open to visitors every day, offering a look inside its historic rooms. Its cultural programme also includes numerous concerts, family days, open-air cinema and exhibitions. If you would like to include culture in your holiday, you can consider visiting the historic rooms and attending a suitable event from the programme as different reasons for your trip. Four stages of the European Martinusweg cultural route cross the Zollernalb, adding a route through the region to its cultural attractions.

Hiking trails and geological features

The Zollernalb lies in the western part of the UNESCO Swabian Alb Geopark, where the mountains reach their greatest heights. The 33-kilometre Schlichem Hiking Trail offers a longer walk: it runs from Meßstetten-Tieringen to Epfendorf, passing small waterfalls, wet meadows and a steep-sided gorge. The route is a practical option for anyone planning an extended hike as part of their trip. There are also fourteen premium trails—eleven in Albstadt and three in Meßstetten—as well as more than 100 signposted circular hiking trails. This gives you a choice of different trail formats, from circular walks to routes passing through several towns.

Individual geological attractions also have their own appeal: the Zillhausen Waterfall and the boulder field below the Hörnle are highlighted as natural spectacles of the Zollernalb. The geological nature trail on Westerberg, above Nusplingen, ends at a designated rock-hammering site. Albguide tours share information about the region’s flora and fauna, as well as its history, prehistory, archaeology and geology; booking an Albguide tour is recommended for this in-depth experience. You can also go hiking with a donkey at Lochen.

Cycling, winter activities and seasonal transport links

If you would rather ride a bike than go hiking, the Alb foothills offer opportunities for relaxed family rides, for example at the Schömberg Reservoir. This is a different way to experience the region and can be considered alongside longer hikes when planning your trip. Winter sports enthusiasts will find numerous cross-country ski trails and ski lifts in the Zollernalb. Your interests—cycling, hiking or winter sports—can therefore help determine the right time to travel and the focus of your holiday.

Two connections are described for the 2026 leisure transport season: the Schieferbahn runs from Balingen to Dotternhausen and Schömberg without requiring a change. The Nauf-Nab-Trauf bus connects Hechingen with the Nägelehaus in Albstadt-Onstmettingen. If you would like to use either of these connections for your excursions, take the 2026 season information into account when planning. This makes it possible to choose a holiday apartment based on the experiences you want to be at the heart of your stay.

Discover places in the Zollernalb District

More places to consider when planning your trip: Burladingen, Balingen, Albstadt, Dautmergen, Meßstetten, Tieringen, Winterlingen, Obernheim, Unterdigisheim, Geislingen, Grosselfingen, Jungingen, Bisingen, Ratshausen, Rosenfeld, Schömberg, Weilen Unter Den Rinnen, Zimmern Unter Der Burg, Nusplingen, Hechingen, Dormettingen, Dotternhausen, Hausen Am Tann, Laufen and Haigerloch.

For the wider travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.