In Denkendorf, you can plan a stay focused on culture and nature: the monastery brings together several points of historical interest, while the Kugelpfad, lakeside paths and other routes offer different ways to enjoy the outdoors. When choosing activities, it is worth considering the specific type of route and its particular details.
Denkendorf Monastery and Local History
Historic Denkendorf Monastery includes a monastery church with a significant crypt, a Staufer stele, the Pfarrscheuer and the monastery lake. The monastery originated as a collegiate foundation of the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre in 1129. Since 2015, a stele made of Jura travertine in the monastery courtyard has commemorated the municipality’s close ties with the Staufer dynasty.
Friedrich Hölderlin is also connected with Denkendorf’s monastery school: he was a seminarian there from 1784 to 1786. Since 2020, a fountain and a commemorative plaque in the Maierhof below the monastery have honored him.
The Rolf-Deuschle Local History Museum offers another perspective on the past of Denkendorf’s village community. It displays collections relating to farming and crafts. The museum is housed at two addresses: Kirchstraße 2, in the basement of the “Zum Alten Bären” inn, and Kirchstraße 9. If you are planning a visit, check the visitor information in advance.
Kugelpfad and Waterside Routes
The Kugelpfad is a nature trail about 2.5 kilometers long, with various marble runs and 13 quiz and adventure stations. As a local recreation destination, it is open to families with children, day visitors, school and kindergarten groups, as well as local community groups and associations. It runs along paved and unpaved farm tracks and is easy to navigate with a stroller. Wheelchair users are advised to have an accompanying person.
A circular path with a promenade runs along the monastery lake; in some places, boardwalks extend over the water. There are additional viewing platforms and an open gathering space at the entrance. The route around Erlachsee is different: a walking path leads from the dam onto a grass track and makes a wide loop around the nature reserve. A path runs close to the lake on its northern and eastern sides.
The “Erlachsee” landscape conservation area was expanded in 1975 and declared a nature reserve in 1989. For orientation, the routes around the two lakes are easy to distinguish: the circular path at the monastery lake is defined by its promenade and boardwalks, while at Erlachsee the described features are the dam, grass track and path running close to the lake.
Hiking and Cycling in Denkendorf
The Main-Neckar-Rhine Trail, also known as Main Hiking Trail 3, passes through Denkendorf and is marked with its own trail signs. The Way of St. James comes from Berkheim through the town and follows LenaustraĂźe, GoethestraĂźe, Eichersteige, KirchstraĂźe and FriedhofsstraĂźe. If you plan to follow either of these routes, check the relevant route information before setting out.
For a longer cycling route, the 188-kilometer Hohenzollern Cycle Route runs from Esslingen am Neckar via Denkendorf, Schönbuch Nature Park, the southwestern foothills of the Swabian Alb, the Danube Valley and the Hegau region, reaching the western edge of Lake Constance. There are therefore different types of routes to choose from: the nature trail, about 2.5 kilometers long; hiking trails through Denkendorf; and an extensive cycling route that passes through several different landscapes.
Discover more destinations: Ohmden, Altbach, Wolfschlugen, Neidlingen, Köngen, Beuren, Erkenbrechtsweiler, Plochingen
Go to the main travel overview: Esslingen.
