In Nerenstetten, the Way of St. James passes through the town; the late medieval St. Magnus Church is on its northern edge. This gives you two specific local landmarks to help you find your way: a route through the town and a church on its outskirts. The nearby Lone Valley also offers opportunities for long walks and cycle rides.
Routes in the town and surrounding area
When planning your route, it is worth making a clear distinction: the Schwäbische Alb Südrand-Weg follows the mostly dry bed of the Lone on its route to Nerenstetten and only passes by the municipality. The Way of St. James, by contrast, passes through the town. The nearby Lone Valley also offers opportunities for long walks and cycle rides. This means there is both a specific route along the Lone and more general recreational opportunities described for the valley.
More cultural history in the Alb-Donau district
The wider travel destination of the Alb-Donau district also offers a glimpse into prehistoric finds and settlement history. Near Schelklingen is Hohle Fels, a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the discovery site of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute”. Both finds are about 42,500 years old. Another archaeological perspective is offered by the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein in Blaustein: it is a Neolithic settlement in the Blau Valley and is part of the transnational and serial UNESCO World Heritage property “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps”. The comparison therefore sets two named finds, with their approximate age, alongside a Neolithic settlement and its World Heritage status.
Monastery towns in the Alb-Donau district
Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085 and today consists mainly of Gothic-style buildings dating from 1466 to 1510. Obermarchtal Monastery stands directly above the Danube and acquired its present form between 1686 and 1795. The former Premonstratensian abbey of Obermarchtal is in the Alb-Donau district. The dates refer to different historical aspects: in Blaubeuren, the focus is on the foundation and Gothic buildings; for Obermarchtal, it is the period during which the complex acquired its present form.
Hiking and cycling in the Alb-Donau district
The Alb-Donau district is part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. Hiking options include 20 circular “Ice Age Trails”, ranging from 6 to 14 km and suitable for day hikes. There are also family-friendly “Ice Age Tracks”, ranging from 1 to 6 km, as well as the Contemplation Trail for multi-day tours. The distance ranges of the two Ice Age offerings meet at 6 km; they also differ in their stated suitability and in the circular nature of the Ice Age Trails.
The themed cycling routes can also be compared by distance: 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 has a four-star rating. These distances give a specific range for the routes mentioned; the rating applies to the Albtäler.
Discover more destinations: Weidenstetten, Illerrieden, Breitingen, Merklingen, Nellingen, Öpfingen, Griesingen, Börslingen
Back to the main travel overview: Alb-Donau district.
