Castle trail - A trip back to the Middle Ages
Medium
Occupancy
no info available
Parking
no info available
Public transport
Show stops
Tour details
Best time of year
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Specifics of the tour
Scenic / Geological highlights / Cultural highlihts
Path condition
Tour signs
Description
Author's recommendation
- At Marbach (650m a.s.l.) you can find the State Stud which exists already since 1553 and is visited by thousands of horse enthusiasts every year. You have free acces to stables and paddocks and can visit the horses. Special breeds are Wurttemberg crossbred horses and Arab thoroughbred. Opening hours: 8am to 12am and 1pm to 5pm. Phone: 07385 96 950, www.gestuet-marbach.de
Directions
On the second day, the castle trail leads as along the B 312 (main road) to Kleinengstingen (703m a.s.l.). There we follow "Gartenstrasse" upwards past the "Ruhlenberg" settlement through the forest to "Jägertal" (hunters valley) and then downwards to Offenhausen (665m a.s.l.) where we can find the Studs´ Museum belonging to the State Stud of Marbach which exist already since 1575. From the Stud´s Museum our way leads us up to "Sternberg" (844m a.s.l.) where we can find a look-out and hikers´ inn. Then we walk down through the forest to "Wolfstal" (wolf valley) and get to Marbach to the famous State Stud.
Our third etap starts at the State Stud from where we can make a little detour to the castle of Grafeneck (euthanasia memorial, Samaritan monastery, organic farm with farm shop, phone: 07385 96 60). Back to Marbach we continue our way to Gomadingen-Dapfen and Wasserstetten. (Detour to the ruined castle of Blankenstein (712m a.s.l.)). From Wasserstetten on the main trail leads to the right and is steeply rising until we reach the plateau and go on to the viewing point "Schachen" (797m a.s.l.) from where we can have an impressive view to the Alps if weather conditions are good. Our way leads us now along meadows and fields, passing "Fladhof" (a farm where we can get lunch on request, phone: 07383 14 74). We get to Münsingen-Hundersingen (628m a.s.l.) following firstly the ancient country road and then on a narrow trail. The mighty ruined castle of Hohenhundersingen marks the starting point of the trail where we find the highest density of ruined castles on the next few kilometres. Probably built during 12th century the ruined castle of Hohenhundersingen was destroyed around 1530. We walk down the hill and follow the Lauter river to Münsingen-Bichishausen (610m a.s.l., canoe station, information point "Lautertal"). The ruined castle of Bichishausen (650m a.s.l.) is the only castle where we can still find parts of a donjon and a frontal wall at the same time. We then walk through the small village and continue our way along the Lauter river until we get to Münsingen-Gundelfingen (593m a.s.l.) where we can find the ruined castle of Niedergundelfingen (732m a.s.l.). The street to Dürrenstetten leads us up to Hohengundelfingen (732m a.s.l.), built around 1180 which is the mightiest castle complex of the Lauter valley. The donjon with a height of 11m offers an amazing view over the Lauter valley. Crossing the Lauter river, we go upstream to the ruined castle Derneck (655m a.s.l., hikers´ inn). This is where the third day ends. Alternatively we could also have an overnight stay at the "Rad-Wander-Häusle" (small wooden houses for bikers and hikers) at Münzdorf. Phone: 07386 506.
Our fourth day etap starts with the descent to the street leading to Münzdorf and the climb through the juniper heaths up to "Kreuzberg" (Cross hill) at Hayingen-Weiler which is also called "Käpfle" (650m a.s.l.). The cross at the top of the hill which is visible from far we have a beautiful view back to the ruined castle of Derneck. During the descent to Hayingen-Weiler we have the possibility to discover a hostoric escargot garden. Nowadays escargot business semms to be almost vintage, but the University of Nürtingen started a project to revive the tradition of escargot breeding in the region. At Hayingen-Weiler we cross the Lauter river and continue to Hayingen-Indelhausen (558m a.s.l.). Through the village past the town hall we cross the two river channels on an island (hikers´ parking site). We go on through the village of Hayingen- Anhausen where the ruined castle of Schülzburg (built in 1605, burned down in 1884) "guards" the village. Along the Lauter river we reach the hikers´ parking site "Maisenburg" (fire place and playground). Behind the clarification plant we can find a detour up to the ruined castle of Maisenburg (635m a.s.l.). Back at the hikers´ parking site we cross the bridge and follow the left bank of the river downstream. From this point on the Lauter valley is traffic free. We can see enormous holes in the mighty rocks, the so called "Ochsenlöcher" (Ox holes), which evolved from the river which was formerly floating on a much higher niveau. After "Hohe Geißel", a waterfall, our way leads upwards via "Gemsfels" to the ruined castle of Wartstein ( 655m a.s.l., look-out). Through the forest and then to the right at the edge of the forest we get to the ruins of Monsberg and St. Ruprecht and from there on to Unterwilzingen. At the beginning of the village we cross the street and follow the Lauter river into the narrow and rocky traffic free valley.. From "Laufenmühle" (Laufen mill) on our way follows a small road up to the ruined castle of Reichensten (590m a.s.l., donjon) and further on to Hochberg (661m a.s.l., viewing point). Via Talheim the trail continues to Obermarchbtal where we can finf a baroque style monastery (architect: Christian Thumb). (Alternatively we can follow a way via Wolfstal (wolf valley, Lauterach and the water mouth of the Lauter valley). Our day ends at REchtenstein (560m a.s.l.).
The last etap leads us along the banks of the Danube river to Emeringen (576m a.s.l.) and to the viewing point Emerberg (641m a.s.l.). Via "Peter´s Käppele", Zwiefalten-Baach and the "Kapellenweg" (chapels´ trail) and along B 312 (main road) the castle trail leads us to its final point: the village of Zwiefalten with its beautiful minster - a masterwork of South-German baroque. During summer months you can find an information point about nature, environment and tourism which also offers regional products at "Peterstor"- Phone: 07373 20 520, www.zwiefalten.de