On the Ostalb, Roman frontier fortifications, medieval monasteries and former mining towns tell very different chapters of history. The Roman past is particularly vivid in Rainau: there, the Upper German-Raetian Limes runs through the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen for about six kilometres. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
Roman traces in Rainau
The Limes Park Rainau preserves particularly beautiful sections and important individual monuments of the Limes in a unique concentration. A reconstructed watchtower offers panoramic views across the Ostalb. The Limestor Dalkingen is another landmark worth discovering: it is considered a unique structure along the entire Limes route between the Rhine and the Danube.
Those who want to explore the frontier on foot will find a signposted circular hiking trail near Rainau. It is about eleven kilometres long and takes approximately two and a half hours to walk. The trail runs from the Limes wall and the Limes tower between Buch and Schwabsberg through the Mahdholz forest, following the Limes to the southern edge of Schwabsberg. The approximate distance and walking time provide a guide for planning your own trip.
Monastic history and Celtic traces
Lorch Monastery combines medieval architectural history with an exhibition about the abbey’s past. The complex comprises a medieval church, the cloister, outbuildings and the Marsilius Tower. From there, views stretch across the monastery grounds, the herb and sensory gardens, and the surrounding area. The monastery was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first Hohenstaufen, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as their burial place. The permanent exhibition covers 900 years of monastic history; its exhibits include the magnificently decorated Lorch choir books.
At Kapfenburg Castle, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo styles meet. The complex was first mentioned in a document in 1311, has never been destroyed, and has been remodelled time and again to reflect the tastes of the era. The Ipf near Bopfingen offers a different historical perspective: this witness mountain of the White Jurassic, with its fortifications, is an important cultural monument. The Celtic open-air site includes a reconstructed burial mound and a pavilion shaped like a Celtic square building. The pavilion provides information about Celtic history and the area around the Ipf.
Underground and on hiking trails
At the Tiefer Stollen visitor mine, the mine train passes through mineral deposits and small stalactites into sandstone chambers covering 2,500 square metres, a hundred metres underground. There, a multimedia show introduces visitors to the history of ore mining in the Aalen area. A circular trail through the mine’s labyrinth leads through former underground mining areas with shafts, loading points and ore extraction chambers.
Outdoors, too, trails vary in length and scenery. The 17-kilometre Wanderblume Tour 4 starts at the village hall in Bartholomä and runs through the Felsenmeer and Wental valleys to the Hirschtal near Steinheim. A hike through the Wental valley towards Steinheim is considered particularly suitable for families. Gnarled trees and bizarre rock formations shape the landscape along the way; with a little imagination, you can make out fairy-tale figures and animals in them. A nature trail offers insights into the natural environment of the ancient river valley.
At 25 kilometres, Wanderblume Tour 2 is longer and returns to Bartholomä: from the village hall, it runs via the Weiherwiesen meadows to the Volkmarsberg, continues past the source of the Kocher near Oberkochen, through the Tiefental valley and via Tauchenweiler. The difference is not just the distance but also the route: Tour 4 ends in the Hirschtal, while Tour 2 returns to its starting point. Check local trail conditions before setting out on the 25-kilometre route.
Cycling route and museums in the Ostalbkreis
For longer cycling trips, the Ostalb Cycling Circuit offers a different scale: it covers around 305 kilometres and is divided into six stages and nine connecting routes that can be combined as you wish. The route passes through the Ostalbkreis and crosses district boundaries several times. It also runs through the districts of Heidenheim and Rems-Murr, and into the Bavarian district of Donau-Ries.
The museum scene offers further perspectives on the region’s historic sites: the Ostalbkreis has 54 museums and collections, as well as 20 locations with open-air archaeological sites; these figures may change over time. Museums and collections offer educational programmes throughout the year, museum festivals, activities around International Museum Day in May, and museum nights. If you are planning to attend an event, check the exact dates before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Rosenberg, Unterschneidheim, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Neresheim, Lauchheim, Kirchheim Am Ries, Ellwangen, Aalen, Böbingen An Der Rems, Westhausen, Schechingen, Waldhausen, Heubach, Neuler, Bopfingen, Rainau, Gschwend, Lorch, Oberkochen, Täferrot, Mutlangen, Bartholomä, Wört, Waldstetten, Tannhausen, Stödtlen, Spraitbach, Ruppertshofen, Obergröningen, Leinzell, Jagstzell, Hüttlingen, Göggingen, Eschach, Ellenberg, Durlangen, Adelmannsfelden, Abtsgmünd, Essingen, Heuchlingen.
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