Schlat lies at the foot of the Alb Mountains, at an altitude of 413 to 700 metres. Fruit growing and circular walking trails give the town two clear focal points for a stay: you can explore the area on foot while also discovering regional produce. The trails vary in length, and some pass through the forest; the fruit-related offerings range from farm products to speciality drinks.
Circular Walking Trails in and around Schlat
Schlat is considered a popular starting point for numerous high-altitude hikes. Local routes include the 9.5-kilometre Gairen-Seeholz circular trail. A shorter alternative is the forest activity trail in Schlater Wald: it is around 2.8 kilometres long and forms a loop. The trail starts east of the “Eiche” hiking car park, at the junction towards Grünenberg, and leads through the forest. This means you can include two circular trails of notably different lengths in your plans.
You can also look beyond Schlat’s individual trails: hikes around Schlat connect with the neighbouring “Albtraufgängerweg” and “Schwäbische Alb-Nordrandweg” trails. Alongside the locally named circular trails, these offer another option for hiking in the surrounding area.
St Andrew’s Church and Local History
Another way to discover the town is through the Protestant Church of St Andrew. It has been shared by the Protestant and Catholic congregations for more than 50 years. This long history of shared use gives the church a special place in Schlat’s cultural identity. For travel planning, it complements the focus on walking with a specific glimpse into local community life, without requiring you to visit another attraction.
Fruit Growing and Regional Products
Schlat has a long tradition of fruit growing; local farmers sell fresh produce directly from their farms. Fruit grown in Schlat includes strawberries, cherries, damsons, mirabelle plums, pears, apples and berries. The selection therefore ranges from different fruits to processed products. If regional products are part of your stay, local producers offer a range of options to explore.
The Jörg Geiger GmbH manufactory in Schlat offers speciality drinks made from old apple and pear varieties. These include single-variety spirits, alcohol-free Prisecco, apple and pear sparkling wines, and single-variety pear and apple sparkling wines made using traditional bottle fermentation. Biolandhof Hauser has a broader farm shop range, including fruit, jam, potatoes and walnuts, as well as apple and apple-pear juice and schnapps made from its own fruit. Geiger GbR, meanwhile, operates a fruit press with a sales shop and distillery in Schlat. Each of the three businesses has a distinct focus: drinks made from old varieties, a diverse range of farm products, and a fruit press with a distillery. Check product availability and current shop and business information before your visit.
More Trails in the Wider Destination of Göppingen
In the wider destination of Göppingen, the Löwenpfade trails in Göppingen district offer another point of comparison for hiking enthusiasts: these circular trails range from 3 to 24 kilometres and can be walked in either direction. They are signposted and marked in both directions. At the start of each Löwenpfad, an information board shows the route, elevation profile and attractions along the way.
There are four Löwentrails for mountain biking in Göppingen district. These circular routes are between 16 and 30 kilometres long and are particularly suitable for beginners and e-mountain bikers. The difference from the Löwenpfade lies not only in the distances but also in how you travel: these routes focus on mountain biking rather than hiking. This allows you to distinguish Schlat’s local trails from the other offerings in the wider destination of Göppingen and choose according to activity and distance.
Discover more destinations: Ottenbach, Rechberghausen, Geislingen an der Steige, Albershausen, Ebersbach an der Fils, Uhingen, Mühlhausen im Täle, Dürnau
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Göppingen.
