Discover Schafhausen through the historic connection between sheep farming, the town’s name and the landscape. The “Follow the Shepherd” hike leads through the Steckental Nature Reserve and starts at the edge of town. The history of the buildings and their uses offers further insights into the destination; the wider destination of Weil der Stadt adds its own cultural and scientific themes.

Experience Sheep Farming and the Landscape

The name Schafhausen and the local landscape are historically linked to sheep farming. The partly barren slopes served as pastureland. Before the Würm was straightened in 1971, the river flowed shallowly and in a meandering course. This made it easier for herds to cross and for the sheep to be washed. The slopes and the river thus played different roles in the landscape of the time: the slopes provided pastureland, while the course of the Würm made crossing and washing easier. The straightening in 1971 changed this relationship.

If you plan to take the “Follow the Shepherd” hike, it starts at the Three Linden Trees at the edge of Schafhausen, in the direction of Magstadt. From there, the route leads through the Steckental Nature Reserve. The Three Linden Trees are designated as a natural monument. This named starting point and the route through the protected area make it easy to orient yourself.

Building History and Traditional Crafts

The tithe barn, built in 1801, is a historic building. Each summer, it hosts the “Open Barn Door Day.” Visitors can see inside the barn and watch demonstrations of traditional crafts such as shoemaking and cooperage. The exact event dates may vary. Check the dates if you want to plan your visit around the event.

The bakehouse on Untere Straße has its own sequence of uses: it was built in 1805 as a private blacksmith’s workshop and converted by the municipality into a bakehouse with a residence in 1855. This change marks two distinct functions: first a smithy, and later baking and living. St. Cyriakus adds another historical feature as a Protestant parish church with a Gothic core.

Weil der Stadt in the Wider Destination

The Planet Trail in Weil der Stadt offers another way to combine hiking with a scientific theme. The Kepler Society created it in spring 2012 with the town of Weil der Stadt, along a hiking route in the northern Würm Valley. The trail is 10.1 kilometres long, with a walking time of about 2¾ hours. It can also be explored by bicycle. The panels about the Sun and the planets closest to it—Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars—are located within Weil der Stadt. The endpoint at Neptune is in the neighbouring municipality of Tiefenbronn. The distance and approximate walking time help you estimate how long to allow for this route.

The museums in Weil der Stadt also cover different subjects. The Kepler Museum is located in the birthplace of astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630). Some of his major works are on display there, mostly in original editions. Modern presentation techniques, computer simulations and video presentations explain scientific fundamentals. Individual exhibits may change; if you have a particular interest, check what is currently on offer in advance.

The Weil der Stadt City Museum presents the town’s history as an immersive chronicle, with 15 rooms across three floors. The ground floor focuses on the political history of the Imperial City of Weil: from its medieval beginnings to the end of its status as an Imperial Free City in 1802. The wider destination of Weil der Stadt therefore offers both scientific and urban-history themes.

Discover more destinations: Hausen an der Würm

Back to the wider travel guide: Weil der Stadt.