Laichingen offers two different ways to experience nature: descending into Tiefenhöhle and exploring the Westerlauh municipal forest.
Laichinger Tiefenhöhle: descending into the chambers
At Laichinger Tiefenhöhle, visitors descend a metal ladder 40 metres to the first “Great Hall”. The route then continues to the “Small Hall”, 55 metres below ground, which is the deepest point accessible to visitors. The route therefore leads not just into a cave, but through two named halls at different depths.
Of the cave passages known today, about 1,300 metres in total, around 330 metres are accessible to visitors. These figures refer to different areas: the greater length describes all the known passages, while the shorter one refers to the section open to visitors. This distinction shows the size of the cave system in relation to the visitor route.
Forest and geological history in Laichingen
Westerlauh, a Laichingen municipal forest and local recreation area, offers a different way to spend time outdoors. It has enclosures for deer and wild boar, an arboretum, a forest classroom, a barbecue area and a playground. Laichingen thus offers two distinct experiences: an underground cave route and a forest area with various facilities. If you plan to visit individual facilities, check their status before your visit, as details may change.
The Cave Science Museum near Tiefenhöhle, close to Laichingen, is in the surrounding area. It explains the karstification of the Swabian Jura and how its caves formed. This gives it a different focus from the visitor route: the cave is about the path through the halls, while the museum explores the geological processes behind them.
The Alb-Donau district as a regional destination in its own right
If you would like to include other topics beyond Laichingen, you can explore the Alb-Donau district as a regional destination in its own right. It includes natural and cultural attractions with a variety of themes. Hohle Fels near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the findspot of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute”. Both finds are about 42,500 years old. In Blaustein, the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein is a Neolithic settlement in the Blau valley and part of the transnational serial UNESCO World Heritage property “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps”.
The monasteries also differ in their history and location. The former Premonstratensian abbey of Obermarchtal is in the Alb-Donau district; its monastery complex stands directly above the Danube and took its present form between 1686 and 1795. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded in 1085 as a Benedictine monastery. Its present buildings date mainly from 1466 to 1510 and are Gothic in style.
Hiking and cycling: different distances
The Alb-Donau district has 20 circular hiking trails known as “Ice Age Trails”, ranging from 6 to 14 kilometres and suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Tracks” are shorter, at 1 to 6 kilometres. The Contemplation Trail is another option for multi-day tours. The distances and types of tour help distinguish these offerings from one another without equating them with the visitor route in Tiefenhöhle.
The themed cycling routes also cover different distances: the “Ice Age Valleys” tour is 75 kilometres long, and the “Berg Bier Tour” is 115 kilometres. The “Albtäler” cycle route is 186 kilometres long and has been awarded four stars. Together with the hiking trails, these routes show that the Alb-Donau district also offers longer regional routes alongside the attractions in Laichingen.
When looking for a hotel in Laichingen, you can first focus on Tiefenhöhle, Westerlauh and the nearby museum. If you would like to explore more of the Alb-Donau district, you can also consider the cultural attractions, hiking trails and cycling routes mentioned above.
Discover more destinations: Setzingen, Heroldstatt, Weidenstetten, Blaustein, Bernstadt, Rammingen, Neenstetten, Ballendorf.
Return to the main travel overview: Alb-Donau district.
