In Malmsheim, you can plan local history and outdoor activities with clearly distinct focuses: a walking tour takes you through the old village centre, while a hiking route starts at the S-Bahn station. There is also a local history museum and the option to consider the practical glider pilot training offered by the local club as a separate activity. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can decide whether to focus primarily on the historic stops, the trail along the Rankbach or the S-Bahn connections.
Explore local history on a self-guided walking tour
The historic walking tour leads to the town hall and St Germanus Church, two former schools and the bakehouse. It also takes in historic farmsteads, single-roof houses and half-timbered buildings from different periods. Rather than focusing on a single building, the route brings together public and church buildings with examples of older village architecture. As you walk, you can take in stops from different periods side by side.
There are 17 information panels in the old village centre; the tour is designed for independent exploration. The local history museum complements this account of the area with displays on rural customs. It is run by the Rankbachtal local history association for the entire town of Renningen. The museum opened in 1991, for Renningen’s millennium celebrations, in a barn dating from the 16th century. This means that two different ways of exploring local history come together in the village centre: the stops along the walking tour in public spaces and the museum collection.
The local history museum is open on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 2 to 5 pm, as well as by appointment. It is closed seasonally from November until Easter. Check the current opening times before your visit, especially if you are planning your stay around a particular Sunday or a visit by appointment.
Plan your walk and S-Bahn journey
An 8.2-kilometre hiking route starts at Malmsheim S-Bahn station and follows the Rankbach along the Bacherlebnispfad nature trail. The starting point provides a clear link to your journey: the station is also the designated start of the route. S-Bahn line S 6 runs towards Stuttgart and Weil der Stadt. You can use the direction of the S-Bahn connections and the length and course of the hiking route to help plan your trip; no walking time is specified for the route.
The hike and the historic walking tour offer different experiences. The tour through the old village centre focuses on the 17 information panels and the historic buildings mentioned above. The hiking route, by contrast, is described as an 8.2-kilometre trail along the Rankbach. If you are interested in both, you can plan them as separate activities rather than treating the local history tour and hiking trail as one route.
Gliding as a club activity
Practical glider pilot training takes place at the Renningen-Malmsheim airfield from March to October. Membership of the club is required to train with the Malmsheim Sports Flying Club. This is a different kind of activity from the self-guided walking tour or hike: the training requires club membership and takes place during the specified season. If gliding is part of your travel plans, take both the season and the membership requirement into account.
More things to do in the Renningen travel destination
Renningen also offers its own cultural and nature-related activities. Each year during the summer season, the Renningen Open-Air Theatre presents a new programme featuring a family play and an evening play for adults. As the programme changes seasonally, check the theatre’s schedule for your dates.
The World Culture Trail runs along the Rankbach from Jahnstraße towards the sports grounds. It is a pleasant route for a walk; artworks along the way prompt reflection on global issues, as well as culture and religion. There are also well-maintained hiking and cycling trails around Renningen for active recreation. Local hiking clubs and the local ADFC cycling association maintain this network on an ongoing basis. In addition to the village tour and hiking route in Malmsheim, Renningen therefore offers further, independent ways to explore culture and enjoy outdoor activities.
The S-Bahn connections and seasonal glider pilot training add transport and club-related options to this selection. You can take into account which of these activities will shape your stay when choosing a holiday apartment.
For the full travel overview: Renningen.
