Schelklingen combines a distinctive valley landscape with history and various ways to explore the surrounding area. Hohenschelklingen Castle Ruins are situated on a mountain spur whose western side projects far into the Schelklingen Valley, formed by the ancient Danube. Other attractions include a historic town walk, pottery activities at the town museum, themed routes, multi-day hikes and cycling tours. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between these different formats: a walk explores the town through a series of stops, while multi-day hikes follow a longer tour format.
Castle and valley landscape
The setting of Hohenschelklingen Castle Ruins on a mountain spur shapes its relationship with the surrounding landscape. The western side in particular projects far into the Schelklingen Valley, which was formed by the ancient Danube. This destination is therefore notable not only for the castle remains, but also for its distinctive terrain and connection to the valley.
Town history, monastery and pottery
With twenty stops, the historic town walk offers a way to explore Schelklingen through its history. Information for the route is available to download. The Schelklingen Town Museum houses a pottery workshop: pottery demonstrations and pottery courses can be booked on request, subject to availability. This is a different format from the walk—a bookable activity whose date depends on the request and availability.
The former Urspring Benedictine monastery also adds to the area’s historical appeal. It is located near Schelklingen in the bend of the ancient Danube, was founded in 1127 and dissolved in 1806. These dates indicate the monastery’s long history as well as its historical status today.
Hiking and cycling in Schelklingen
The Alb Water Tour is a themed route in Schelklingen. In addition, several challenging and scenic multi-day hikes on the Swabian Alb pass through the town. The options therefore range from a themed route to hikes spanning several days. Cycling tours invite visitors to explore Schelklingen and the Ach and Schmiech valleys. Walking and cycling offer different ways to explore, with no particular order of routes prescribed.
More routes in the Alb-Donau district
The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district offers further hiking options of various lengths and types. The 20 “Ice Age Paths” circular routes are 6 to 14 kilometres long and are suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Trails,” ranging from 1 to 6 kilometres, and the Contemplation Trail for multi-day tours provide additional options. These figures show the differences in scale, from shorter paths to routes for day or multi-day hikes.
The themed cycling routes in the Alb-Donau district also vary in length: the “Ice Age Valleys” tour is 75 kilometres long, the “Mountain Beer Tour” 115 kilometres, and the “Albtäler” cycle route 186 kilometres. When planning, you can first match your preferred distance to the relevant route. The Alb-Donau district is also part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve.
Cultural attractions in the Alb-Donau district
The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district includes Hohle Fels near Schelklingen. The cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the place where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute” were found; both finds are about 42,500 years old. In Blaustein lies the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein, a Neolithic settlement in the Blau Valley. It is part of the transnational serial UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”
Monasteries in the Alb-Donau district provide further historical highlights. Obermarchtal Abbey stands directly above the Danube and acquired its present form between 1686 and 1795. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085; its buildings today date mainly from the Gothic building period of 1466 to 1510. Together with Urspring near Schelklingen, these sites reflect different historical connections, while those outside Schelklingen belong to the wider destination of the Alb-Donau district.
Discover more destinations: Setzingen, Erbach, Laichingen, Asselfingen, Dietenheim, BerghĂĽlen, Ehingen, Blaustein.
View the wider travel guide: Alb-Donau district.
