Owingen offers several reasons to plan a trip around nature and local history: Hohenbodman observation tower, the gorge landscape of Aachtobel and the nature trails in Billafingen. There are also historic buildings and practical information about getting there. The topics that interest you most can help you find suitable hotels in Owingen for your stay.
Hohenbodman: Tower and castle history
Hohenbodman observation tower stands in the Owingen district of Hohenbodman. It is 37 metres high, and its walls are about three metres thick. Inside, 141 steps lead to the top. The tower was built in the 11th century as the keep of the castle belonging to the Lords of Bodman. This makes a visit a chance to connect with a specific piece of architectural and local history. The tower is easily reached on foot from Hohenbodman; a car park and a toilet are available. As facilities can change, check these details locally before planning your visit.
Aachtobel: Gorge and long-distance hiking trail
The Aachtobel nature reserve lies below the Owingen district of Hohenbodman. The gorge, with its wild-romantic, idyllic character, is shaped by soft molasse sandstone, and a rustic, refreshing stream winds through it. Visitors interested in landscape and geology will find a different focus here than at the historic tower. The Jubiläumsweg through Aachtobel is part of an approximately 110-kilometre long-distance hiking trail from Kressbronn to Überlingen. The approximate total length and the two endpoints indicate the trail’s regional scope.
Billafingen: Nature trails and natural history
Two nature-trail themes in Billafingen offer different insights. Along the nature trail, signs explain trees, shrubs and other plants; they also provide information about various nesting boxes and their inhabitants. Every year on the first Sunday in May, experts lead a public tour there. Check the date for the relevant year before planning around this event.
The Billafingen village trail leads to more than 30 interesting and historic places. These include Billafingen Castle, the stately BannmĂĽhle mill, the Akziserhaus and the Obere Schmiede forge. In Billafingen, natural history and local history therefore stand side by side as separate themes: signs along the nature trail focus on plants and nesting boxes, while the village trail highlights historic places.
Places for quiet reflection and local architecture
The Lourdes Grotto in Owingen is a place for quiet reflection and is maintained by local residents. The municipality is also home to other historic buildings: St. Nicholas Chapel is known as the “little sister of Birnau.” The parish church of St. Peter and Paul is a single-nave, Late Gothic hall church dating from the 15th century. These examples complement Hohenbodman’s castle history with religious architecture and a place for quiet contemplation.
Getting there and regional context
The nearest railway station is in Ăśberlingen, six kilometres from Owingen. Owingen is also accessible every half hour by RegioBus 500. Check current services and frequency before travelling, as transport details can change. This lets you compare travel information with the interests bringing you to Owingen before choosing your accommodation.
The Bodenseekreis district provides the broader regional context for Owingen. It stretches along almost the entire northern shore of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg and reaches into the Upper Swabian hills and, to the east, the West Allgäu hills. Its landscape is shaped by Lake Constance and the neighbouring hills, with fruit orchards, vineyards, meadows and forests. The Bodenseekreis district has 57.7 kilometres of Lake Constance shoreline. These regional features provide context for the district, while the sights and nature trails described here relate to choices in Owingen and its districts.
Discover more destinations: Tettnang, Daisendorf, Baitenhausen, Bermatingen, Ăśberlingen, Markdorf, Neukirch, Meckenbeuren.
Back to the main travel overview: Lake Constance.
