The Central Swabian Alb Visitor Information

Information about the Biosphere Region Swabian Alb 2 // Central Swabian Alb

Gütersteiner Waterfalls

Be in the thick of it – the heart of the Alb Visitor Information // 3

A Landscape as beautiful as a painting for you to discover – it is often called the “Mystic Swabian Alb” with a hundred faces and a thou- sand ways to be discovered. Be surprised by the magnificent activities it has to offer.

4 // Culinary Delights

Swabian

Swabian culinary delights Visitor Information // 5

Roast Beef with and Spätzle (typical, homemade ) (Zwiebelrostbraten mit Spätzle)

Lentils with Spätzle and Swabian cuisine can be both delicate (Linsen mit Spätzle und Saitenwürstchen) and hearty. After shopping, discover the diversity of Swabian cuisine in cozy street cafés and rustic taverns. Tasty regional specialties are also avail- able at various weekly markets.

Mutscheln (Swabian speciality) 6 // Hiking and Bicycling

Large Lauter Valley Hiking and bicycling in the heart of nature

View of the Valley Visitor Information // 7

Canoe trip on the Lauter

Experience wide open spaces Enjoy a magnificent view of the , the rim of the Swabian Alb, deep valleys and ragged rock formations on well marked paths. Select a com- fortable route or go on a demanding tour – Set your own pace. 8 // Highlights

Pointed rock in the Lauter Valley Central Swabian Alb Highlights

Baroque church in In the heart of Baden- Wurttemberg One of ’s most beautiful sceneries awaits you south of – grand palaces, castles, ruins and baroque churches.

Bear cave at Sonnenbühl Visitor Information // 9

Lichtenstein castle, town landmark of 10 // Highlights

Bad Urach Waterfalls Visitor Information // 11

Water world Impressive waterfalls and mineral springs – simply dive in and relax. Central Swabian Alb Highlights

Thermal springs in

Thermal springs in Bad Urach 12 // Highlights

Court and state farm at Marbach Central Swabian Alb Highlights

Lauter Valley Visitor Information // 13

Fashion outlets in

Urban shopping meets nature. A combination with a very special touch: Shop for discount brand name fashions at the outlet mall in Metzingen or shop in downtown Reutlingen. Stay a few extra days to relax and enjoy nature in the Central Swabian Alb region.

Fashion outlets in Metzingen 14 // Highlights

Market square in Reutlingen “Concrete Art” Endowment in Reutlingen

Philharmonic Orchestra of Wurttemberg in Reutlingen Visitor Information // 15 Central Swabian Alb Highlights

Leisure shopping Wilhelmstrasse Urban life and culture in the Reutlingen “small” metropolis of Reutlingen at the foot of the Swabian Alb. Stroll through this popular shopping city with a multitude of bargains, a weekly market and a modern market hall and relax in one of the many cafés and restaurants. Enjoy the superior cultural highlights – the Central Swabian Alb is more than just a unique piece of nature.

Market hall in Reutlingen Gothic Church of the Holy Mary in Reutlingen 16 // Highlights Biosphere Swabian Alb The northern rim of the Swabian Alb, the so-called You and your family can hike and bicycle directly Albtrauf, with expanded forest lined gorges, fruit from your door, take a guided tour, walk along orchards and a great multitude of hedgerows heritage and adventure trails, visit landmarks and and juniper heaths on the high plains of the Alb museums, enjoy regional foods and experience a contribute to the very special atmosphere of the whole lot more in the peaceful and beautiful set- Biosphere Swabian Alb. ting called the Biosphere Swabian Alb. Simply stop by and see for yourself! Meet up with 328 square miles of unequalled history and traditional culture. No place else in Baden-Württemberg you will encounter such a UNESCO Biosphere Swabian Alb multitude of habitats, rare flora and fauna, as well Office Biosphere Swabian Alb: as cultural and historic points of interest. That Altes Lager Gebäude R 13 is why the UNESCO awarded this region the title 72525 Münsingen-Auingen “Biosphere Reserve” in 2009. Phone: 07381 932938-10 [email protected] www.biosphaerengebiet-alb.de

Falkenstein Cave Visitor Information // 17

Dettingen Stuttgart u. Teck Weilheim approx. 25km a.d. Teck Owen Bissingen a.d. Teck Walldorfhäslach Beuren Neidlingen RiederichKohlberg Lenningen Erkenbrechtsweiler Metzingen Dettingen a.d. Erms Wester- Hülben heim Reutlingen Römerstein Bad Urach u. Achalm

Pfullingen Holzelfingen Sankt Gutsbezirk approx. 15km Lichtenstein Johann Münsingen Münsingen Sonnenbühl

Hohenstein (Donau)

Lauterach

Zwiefalten county of Reutlingen development area

external border of the biosphere preservation area

community border core area 18 // Central Swabian Alb

People of the Central Swabian Alb are said to be a bit rough and unconventional, yet very endear- ing - just like the landscape that surrounds them. This low mountain range in the heart of Baden- Württemberg has an enchanting natural charm. It is located about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart and offers a wide range of enjoyable experiences: Nature, culture and scenic villages. For an active holiday as well as for families with children, the Central Swabian Alb offers much to experience and discover. You can hike, bicy- cle or ride a horse along one of the many paths to explore the karst landscape with its juniper heaths, jagged rock formations and gentle val- leys beyond well worn tourist paths. All along the northern rim, the so-called Albtrauf, you have a splendid view onto the foreland. Central Swabian Alb Visitor Information // 19

This region was recently awarded the UNESCO title important role in this part of the Central Swabian “Biosphere Reserve” for its continuous develop- Alb, and many farmers have committed them- ment efforts that benefit both man and nature. It selves to ecologically sustainable. They produce covers approx. 850 square kilometers and houses a rich selection of regional specialities offered at 29 communities. The heart of this “biosphere” is homesteads and in restaurants throughout the the former military training area in Münsingen, a region. Culinary delights like homemade cider great place to take a hike or go on a bicycle trip. from local orchards, the hearty filled dumplings These grasslands are typical for the highlands called “Maultaschen” or from genuine Alb found on the Alb in the 19th century. buffaloes also make this region worth visiting. The Large Lauter Valley enchants with magical nature and an exciting history: You can bicycle, canoe and visit the ruins of a number of medieval castles. From the castle tower you have a majes- tic view across the valley onto the winding silver loops of the Large Lauter river. Dense forests huddle against the hillside, sheep and horses graze on the meadows. Agriculture still plays an >> 20 // Central Swabian Alb

When it comes to overnight accommodations the The peripheral region of the Alb is also very attrac- hosts on the Alb are very creative: the conven- tive: Ermstal, the Erms Valley, is known for its tional hotel with a feather bed is replaced with cherry trees with fabulous cherry blossoms in the a bed of hay in a shepherd’s carriage or a rustic spring time. The City of Metzingen offers an urban bicycling hostel. flair in an idyllic setting. It is surrounded by vine- Horse lovers must visit the court and state farm at yards and well known for its fashion outlets. Relax Marbach. In the 15th century, noble men started and regenerate yourself in the saunas and spas having their horses bred here and today this state with hot springs in the nearby city of Bad Urach. operated farm is especially known for breed- (The word “Bad” before a city name means that a ing Arabian horses. Also discover the geologi- city is distinguished as spa city.)The old imperial cal history of the Alb in a number of caves. This town of Reutlingen, the University City of Tübingen region was awarded the seal of quality “Geo Park on the Neckar and Ulm with its world famous Swabian Alb”. The Wimsener Höhle, the cave at minster are also worth visiting and can be Wimsen near Hayingen, for example, is the only conveniently reached by car. water cave in Germany accessible by boat – here you can travel 75 yards into the earth. Also visit the Bärenhöhle, the bear cave, near Sonnenbühl to admire bizarre stalagmite formations and let the bear skeletons remind you of the ancient history of this part of the country. Visitor Information // 21

Wimsener Höhle (Wimsen Cave)

Bärenhöhle (Bear cave) 22 // The Central Swabian Alb: South of Stuttgart between Neckar and Donau Map scale 1 : 285 000 Visitor Information // 23

Direction Direction Würzburg A 81

Direction Stuttgart Karlsruhe A8 Interchange Leonberg Interchange Stuttgart Böblingen Degerloch Wendlingen Kirchheim A 7 Teck Ost B 464 Herrenberg B 313 B 27 B 312 B 465 B 28 Tübingen Metzingen Merklingen Römerstein B 28 Interchange A 81 K 7423 Reutlingen Bad Urach B 28 A8 Ulm O. Ulm Ulm W. Direction Sonnenbühl B 312 Münsingen Singen Direction München B 313 Ulm B 311 B 465 Trochtelfingen B 312 A 7 Zwiefalten Direction Kempten

How to get there Imprint Editor: Tourist Association Swabian Alb and Alb Foreland Admini- strative District Reutlingen e.V. Via car > A 8 from Karlsruhe: Exit Stuttgart-Degerloch, Chairman: Eugen Schäufele, Bank Director,Chairman Board of Directors Savings Bank Reutlingen B 27 / 312 Metzingen / Reutlingen or B 28 Bad Chief Executive Officer: Wolfgang Schütz Urach. > A 8 from Munich: Exit Merklingen, Bad Urach or Tourist Association “Mythos Schwäbische Alb”, Kaiserstrasse 27, 72764 Reutlingen, Phone 07121 480-3033 Münsingen. [email protected], www.mythos-schwaebische-alb.de > A 81 from Singen: Exit Herrenberg, B 28 via Tübingen and Metzingen to Bad Urach. Translation: Bettina Mauthe-Peters Design, layout: Apollo 11 GmbH, Reutlingen Via train > Railway line Stuttgart-Tübingen to Metzingen, Photographs: Michael Abele (Reutlingen), Felix Fuchs (Römer- stein), Manfred Grohe (Kirchentellinsfurt), Thomas Kiehl (Met- transfer to connection Metzingen-Bad Urach, zingen), Markus Mahle (Stuttgart), Achim Mende (Überlingen), > Bus connection from Bad Urach, Reutlingen and Wolfgang Ott (Munich), Public Relations: Walter Röhm (Bad Urach), Münsingen to the Central Swabian Alb. Schwabenlandfilm GmbH / Sabine Stumpp (Laible&Frisch), Achim Sperber (Hamburg), Bernhard Trucksäß (Munich), Tourist Office Picture Library or Tourist Information Regional map: TÜK200, Federal Office for Carthography, Frankfurt Via plane Map: Geobasisinformations, © Federal Office for Cartography and Airport Stuttgart (Echterdingen), continue via bus Geodesy or train. Print: Print Shop Leibfarth + Schwarz, Dettingen / Erms Data was provided by the city and town managements, tourist information and the service providers for tourism. Version: October 2009. We are not responsible for the correctness of this information. Information about hosts and the current version of visitor informa- tion are available under www.mythos-schwaebische-alb.de www.geopark-alb.de www.biosphaerengebiet-alb.de

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Tourism Association Mythos Schwäbische Alb Kaiserstraße 27, 72764 Reutlingen Phone 07121 480-3033 [email protected] www.mythos-schwaebische-alb.de