The “Merklinger Nudel” originated in Merklingen’s bakehouse. Located in the town center, the bakehouse combines traditional baking culture with modern facilities and a welcoming communal atmosphere. Individuals, clubs, companies and groups can rent the rooms individually or in combination.
Church and craftsmanship tell the story of the town
The Church of the Three Holy Kings in Merklingen was built in 1452; its high altar, from the Ulm School, dates from 1510. These are two distinct historical reference points: the year the church was built and the date of the high altar. The Bleichhäusle recalls the town’s former linen weaving industry. With more than 100 looms, it was one of the area’s more significant sources of employment. The church and the Bleichhäusle thus point to different aspects of the town’s history: religious architecture and art, and an important local industry.
Cycling circuits through Merklingen
A route overview dated 2020 lists two cycling circuits that pass through Merklingen. Tour 1 is 45 kilometers long and runs from Laichingen via Aufhausen, Nellingen and Merklingen, returning to Laichingen. Tour 4 covers 51 kilometers and runs from Westerheim via the source of the Fils, Merklingen and Laichingen, returning to Westerheim. Both are loop routes; they differ in their stated lengths and the order of the places listed. The difference is six kilometers, making Tour 1 the shorter of the two listed circuits, while Tour 4 is six kilometers longer.
Culture and nature in the wider destination of the Alb-Donau district
The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district offers other cultural attractions. Hohle Fels near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the discovery site of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Geierknochenflöte” (Vulture-Bone Flute); both finds are around 42,500 years old. Obermarchtal Monastery stands directly above the Danube and took on its present form between 1686 and 1795. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085 and today consists mainly of Gothic-style buildings dating from 1466 to 1510. Blaustein is also home to the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein, a Neolithic settlement in the Blau valley that is part of the transnational, serial UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”
Hiking options also vary in length and format: the 20 Ice Age Trails are 6 to 14 kilometers long and are suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly Ice Age Tracks cover 1 to 6 kilometers; the Path of Reflection is designed for multi-day tours. Themed cycling routes in the Alb-Donau district include the 75-kilometer “Ice Age Valleys” tour, the 115-kilometer “Berg Bier Tour” and the 186-kilometer “Albtäler” cycle route, which has been awarded four stars. The Alb-Donau district is part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve.
Discover more destinations: BerghĂĽlen, Ă–llingen, Obermarchtal, Emerkingen, Erbach, Ă–pfingen, Lonsee, Amstetten.
Back to the main travel guide: Alb-Donau district.
