Neenstetten can be explored through two specific themes: the Protestant parish church of St. Ulrich, with its various construction phases, and a circular hike through the Eschental Valley that starts in Neenstetten and returns there. The landscape offers another perspective: the municipal area lies on a ridge above the Lone Valley and is bounded by valleys.
Landscape of the municipal area
In terms of its natural geography, Neenstetten belongs to the Lower Flächenalb. At its core, the municipal area is a rolling, karstified plateau that slopes from northwest to southeast. The eastern edge is formed by the box-shaped to V-shaped Eschental-Eisental-Märklestal valley; to the south, the Lower Trutteltal marks the municipal boundary. The description therefore covers more than the ridge: it also identifies the valleys that bound the municipal area on its eastern and southern sides.
St. Ulrich and its construction phases
The Protestant parish church of St. Ulrich is a walled hall church with a gabled roof. The recessed, vaulted rectangular chancel is located in the east tower. Its construction history can be traced through several periods: the early Gothic chancel tower dates from the mid-13th century. The nave dates from no later than the 15th century and was extended westward in 1603. The upper tower storeys and spire date from 1730. The church thus brings together different construction phases, from the medieval chancel tower to the later top of the tower.
Those interested in the development of church architecture can focus on its individual elements: the nave, the recessed chancel in the east tower and the various sections of the tower. The dates place these elements in chronological order without reducing the building to a single period.
Circular hike through the Eschental Valley
The circular hike starts in Neenstetten, descends through the Eschental Valley into the Lone Valley and returns to Neenstetten via Börslingen. The start and finish are therefore in the same village; along the way, the described route leads from the Eschental Valley to the Lone Valley and then back via Börslingen. If you are planning the hike, check current trail conditions before setting out.
More things to explore in the Alb-Donau district
The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district offers further landscape and cultural attractions. The Alb-Donau district is part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. Near Schelklingen is Hohle Fels, a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the site where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “vulture-bone flute” were found. Both finds are about 42,500 years old. In Blaustein, in the Blau Valley, lies the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein, a Neolithic settlement and part of the transnational, serial UNESCO World Heritage site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”
The monastery complexes also have distinct histories. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085 and today consists mainly of Gothic buildings dating from 1466 to 1510. The former Premonstratensian abbey of Obermarchtal is in the Alb-Donau district. The monastery complex rises directly above the Danube and took on its present form between 1686 and 1795.
There are 20 circular “Ice Age Trails” to choose from in the Alb-Donau district. They are 6 to 14 kilometres long and are suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Tracks” are 1 to 6 kilometres long; the Meditation Trail is intended for multi-day tours. The routes therefore cover a range of distances and types of tour.
The regional cycling routes also have clearly defined distances: the “Ice Age Valleys” route is 75 kilometres long, and the “Berg Bier Tour” is 115 kilometres long. The “Albtäler” cycle route covers 186 kilometres and has a four-star rating. The three routes can therefore be distinguished first by their length.
Discover more destinations
Dietenheim, Ehingen, Blaubeuren, Obermarchtal, Nerenstetten, Munderkingen, Ă–llingen, Rammingen
Back to the main travel overview: Alb-Donau district.
