In Göppingen, traces of the Staufer era meet contemporary art and long-standing festivals. Visitors can tailor their stay to their own interests, perhaps focusing on the history surrounding Hohenstaufen, art in the city, or excursions in the district of Göppingen. This distinction is useful when planning, since not every regional route is located within the city itself.
Staufer History in Göppingen
The ruins of the Staufers’ ancestral castle stand in Göppingen’s Hohenstaufen district. The castle was built around 1070 and destroyed in the Peasants’ War in 1525. Hohenstaufen is also the central point of the “Road of the Staufers” cultural route, which leads to important architectural landmarks from the Staufer era. This makes it possible to connect the city’s history with a wider historical context without treating the individual stops as one and the same.
An exhibition on the Staufers also explores the history of the ruling dynasty, including the reigns of Frederick I Barbarossa and his grandson Frederick II. In spring and summer, the city offers a free guided tour once a month on 684-meter-high Hohenstaufen, with information about its history. If you would like to plan around this seasonal event, check the latest dates before your visit.
Hohenstaufen is also the best-known of the Three Kaiser Mountains and is considered a landmark of the Stauferland region. From here, visitors can enjoy panoramic views over the landscape of the district of Göppingen. Historical associations and a regional perspective thus come together on the same named mountain; the castle ruins and the viewpoint are distinct aspects of the place.
Art, Cityscape and Festivals
Since 1989, the Kunsthalle Göppingen has presented international contemporary art in exhibitions and in public and digital spaces. This adds an artistic perspective to the historical focus—one that is not limited to a single building or a bygone era. The exhibitions currently on view may change.
The Schlossplatz, Renaissance castle and town church form a harmonious ensemble in the cityscape. The Schlossplatz was redesigned in 2014. Together, the three elements provide a specific point of reference for a walking tour; the redesign applies to the square, not to the entire ensemble.
Göppingen’s festival traditions also have different historical points of reference. The original Peace and Thanksgiving Festival was first held on August 11, 1650, to celebrate the end of the Thirty Years’ War. The Maientag is a long-standing local festival that has connected tradition and modernity for more than 350 years. These details tell the story of the festivals but do not specify current event dates.
In Jebenhausen, a suggested walking route leads to sites of Jewish history and remembrance. If you include this route in your plans, check in advance whether each site is currently accessible. This keeps the route’s historical content distinct from the question of which places can be visited on the day.
Distinguishing the City from the District When Planning Your Trip
Beyond the city, the district of Göppingen offers further opportunities for hiking and cycling excursions. The Löwenpfade are circular hiking trails ranging from 3 to 24 kilometers in length. They can be hiked in either direction and are signposted and marked both ways. Each trailhead has an information board with details about the route, an elevation profile and points of interest along the way. This makes it possible to compare trail lengths and navigation options before choosing a hike.
The district’s four Löwentrails for mountain bikes are a different offering: these are circular routes between 16 and 30 kilometers long, particularly suitable for beginners and e-mountain bikers. For a different kind of cycling trip, the 186-kilometer “Albtäler” route runs through the district of Göppingen and the neighboring districts of Heidenheim and Alb-Donau. It is a quality cycling route awarded four stars by the German Cyclists’ Federation. The different lengths and cycling options can help you choose a suitable scale for your plans without confusing hiking routes with cycling routes.
The district’s landscape is another distinct part of the regional offering: along the Albtrauf escarpment, orchards shape an old cultural landscape. The district of Göppingen has 20 designated nature reserves with a total area of 2,887 hectares. Award-winning sparkling wines are made there from the Champagne Reinette pear, which comes from nearby orchards. This describes regional landscapes and products, not a specific tasting offer.
Getting There and Finding Accommodation
Göppingen’s Faurndau district has a railway stop and a rail connection on the Filstal timetable. Public transport in Faurndau also includes bus and train services, particularly to central Göppingen and the greater Stuttgart area. If you plan to travel by public transport, check the latest timetables before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Rechberghausen, Wangen, Dürnau, Donzdorf, Wiesensteig, Bad Überkingen, Mühlhausen Im Täle, Bad Boll.
Back to the main travel overview: Göppingen.
