Explore Alb-Donau-Kreis through three travel interests: Ice Age finds, monastic history, and hiking and cycling. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay. This way, your plans can reflect the places and activities you actually want to prioritize, rather than grouping different destinations together without considering your travel plans.
Cave Art and Monastic History
Hohle Fels near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave. The “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute” were found there; both finds are about 42,500 years old. The specific findspot, the two named objects, and their approximate dating give the archaeological perspective a clear focus. If you are interested in early art and music history, you can make these finds the centerpiece of your trip.
The Stone Age village of Ehrenstein in Blaustein adds a Neolithic settlement in the Blau valley to the theme. It is part of the transnational, serial UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.” This offers different aspects of prehistory to explore: the finds from Hohle Fels and the settlement of Ehrenstein. This distinction helps you define your cultural focus for the trip.
The history of the monasteries also offers two clearly dated points of interest. The former Premonstratensian Abbey of Obermarchtal is in Alb-Donau-Kreis. The monastic complex rises directly above the Danube and took on its present form between 1686 and 1795. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085; its present buildings mostly date from 1466 to 1510 and are in the Gothic style. A comparison reveals different historical time periods: for Obermarchtal, the period in which the complex took its present form is specified, while Blaubeuren is notable for its founding and predominantly Gothic buildings.
Hiking, Cycling and the Biosphere
Hiking options differ in length and format. The 20 circular “Ice Age Trails” are between 6 and 14 km long and are suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Traces,” ranging from 1 to 6 km, provide another option. The Contemplation Trail is designed for multi-day hikes. This means you can include day hikes, the shorter Ice Age Traces, and a multi-day option as different possibilities in your plans.
The themed cycling routes also vary in length: the “Ice Age Valleys” tour is 75 km long, the “Berg Bier Tour” is 115 km, and the “Albtäler” cycle route is 186 km. The “Albtäler” cycle route has received a four-star rating. The distances make the differences between the three options clear without presenting them as one combined route.
Alb-Donau-Kreis is part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. The Biosphere Information Center in Lauterach offers a water discovery trail. Along the GroĂźe Lauter, visitors can experience protected shallow-water zones in the midst of nature. While the hiking and cycling options can be distinguished by route length and tour format, the water experience offers a separate focus on nature.
Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests
These focus areas offer different ways to plan your search without requiring a fixed itinerary. This allows you to choose a hotel based on the themes that actually matter most during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Breitingen, Börslingen, Ulm, Merklingen, Langenau, Laichingen, Kirchen, Blaubeuren, Blaustein, Erbach, Griesingen, Öpfingen, Ehingen, Rammingen, Nellingen, Rottenacker, Obermarchtal, Dornstadt, Westerheim, Lonsee, Munderkingen, Illerrieden, Amstetten, Schelklingen, Asselfingen, Ballendorf, Berghülen, Bernstadt, Heroldstatt, Holzkirch, Neenstetten, Öllingen, Setzingen, Weidenstetten, Dietenheim, Emerkingen, Nerenstetten, Allmendingen and Staig.
Go to the main travel overview: Baden-WĂĽrttemberg.
