Cross-country skiing, cycling and local attractions
From the multi-purpose hall in Erkenbrechtsweiler, the Berghau cross-country ski trail leads into an extensive network of trails between HĂĽlben, Grabenstetten and Erkenbrechtsweiler. The trail is seasonal; whether the network can be used depends on the prevailing conditions. Check these in advance if you are planning to go cross-country skiing. A cycling tour can start behind the town hall.
The Heidengraben Centre in Erkenbrechtsweiler is wheelchair-accessible and designed to be accessible. Nearby Hohenneuffen Castle is a castle ruin offering 360-degree views across the Swabian Alb and its foothills. This means there are several different criteria to consider: the trail, whose availability depends on conditions; a possible starting point for a cycling tour; and the centre's accessible facilities, as well as the views from the castle.
In the wider Esslingen destination
The Esslingen district is one of the ten districts in the Swabian Alb Geopark. Six distinct landscape areas characterise the district: Schurwald, Schönbuch, the Filder plateau, the Neckar Valley, the Alb foothills and the Alb escarpment. The orchard landscape also shapes the scenery, with 1.5 million fruit trees.
The 6-kilometre Kelten-Erlebnis-Pfad (Celts Experience Trail) follows new information stations through the late Celtic oppidum of Heidengraben, with a free multimedia app. The Hauff Prehistoric Museum in Holzmaden displays fossils from the Posidonia Shale and is located in the heart of the Holzmaden fossil site. With around 1,000 m² of exhibition space, it is one of Germany's largest private natural history museums. Köngen Roman Park comprises a museum building and an open-air site. These examples offer different experiences: a trail through an oppidum, fossils in a museum, and an archaeological site with indoor and outdoor areas.
Since 2020, around 1,200 kilometres of district cycling routes have been available to cyclists in the Esslingen district; there is continuous bicycle route signage throughout the district. When there is enough snow, the district has three cross-country ski trails to choose from. The starting point behind the town hall is a local tip; the around 1,200 kilometres of district cycling routes and continuous signage cover the entire district. This gives you two scales to consider when planning a cycling trip: a possible starting point in Erkenbrechtsweiler and an overview of routes and navigation across the district.
In Beuren, the open-air museum has a themed trail with 18 stations about the natural and cultural landscape, orchard varieties and cultivated plants. At the Beuren soil trail, the soil profile pits are open from April to October and closed from November to March. Guided tours are held regularly, and group tours can be arranged individually. For a specific tour, check the latest dates. These activities differ considerably in terms of seasonal planning: the soil profile pits have a fixed opening period, while cross-country skiing depends on sufficient snowfall.
Discover more destinations: Plochingen, Frickenhausen, Deizisau, NĂĽrtingen, Neckartenzlingen, Neuhausen Auf Den Fildern, Neidlingen, Aichtal
For the wider travel overview: Esslingen.
