Kirchheim am Ries lies on the western edge of the Ries, at the foot of the 600-metre-high Blasienberg. Paths through orchards, views across the Ries landscape, and the history of the former Cistercian convent give the town several points of interest. When planning your trip, it is worth comparing hiking routes by length and theme and setting aside time for cultural sites as a distinct part of your stay.
Hiking Trails and Nature Themes
The 5-kilometre Streuobstpfad mit Riesblick (Orchard Trail with Ries Views) starts at Eulenstein and passes orchards and a protected woodland on Ohrenberg. Along the way, views open up across the flat Ries landscape. Information boards explain the orchard habitat; QR labels help identify the varieties of fruit trees. The circular trail thus combines landscape views with information about the orchards.
The Blasienberg Nature Trail is about 4.5 kilometres long. Ten QR audio stations cover wildlife, plants, and geology; the trail also offers views of the Ries and a viewing swing. Compared with the 5-kilometre orchard trail, it is slightly shorter. At Riesblick next to Blasienberg, the bilingual Geopark Ries information point offers views of the Ries Basin and Kirchheim, as well as a geological map. As trail facilities and stations may change, check the latest information before setting out.
The 7.3-kilometre Sinnespfad zwischen Wald & Wasser (Senses Trail between Forest & Water) starts at the former Cistercian convent and partly follows the Ries Panorama Trail. Its starting point and section along the panoramic trail set it apart from the two shorter routes. The Ries Panorama Trail itself runs for 128 kilometres around the Nördlingen Ries Crater and is divided into seven day stages. Check the current route before setting out.
The Beaver and Tree Trail offers another perspective on nature: it introduces more than 20 species of trees and shrubs and supplements the information with QR codes. In addition to geology and orchards, the focus here is on the diversity of woody plants. The Geopark Ries information boards about the formation of the Ries and its surroundings are accessible around the clock; tables and benches provide places to rest.
Monastery History and Architecture
The former Cistercian convent of the Assumption of Mary is a site of cultural and historical interest in Kirchheim am Ries. Count Ludwig III of Oettingen founded the convent for women in 1267. An arched gateway dating from 1724, with statues of saints, forms the entrance to the convent grounds. The convent church was built in the Early Gothic style and completed around 1300; its Baroque high altar, dating from 1756, depicts the Assumption of Mary. The church thus brings together its Early Gothic construction and later Baroque furnishings.
Another historic landmark is St. Martin’s Chapel in Unterkirchheim. Its altar is made from an upside-down Roman sacrificial stone discovered during renovation work. The reused stone provides a different point of interest from the dated architectural and decorative features of the convent church.
Travel by Public Transport
Kirchheim am Ries is connected to the public transport network via Bopfingen railway station. Regular bus services run to the municipality and its districts. If you are planning to travel by train and bus, check the current connections before your trip, as timetables may change.
Discover more destinations: Bopfingen, Adelmannsfelden, Heuchlingen, Obergröningen, Böbingen An Der Rems, Tannhausen, Schechingen, Bartholomä.
Return to the overview of the wider region: Ostalbkreis.
