Zwiefalten: Minster and concerts

The Minster of Our Lady is the focal point of the old monastic and pilgrimage town of Zwiefalten and is one of the most important examples of German late Baroque architecture. The annual Minster concerts are held in the church; their dates vary. If you would like to include a concert in your travel plans, check the date for your travel year. This helps distinguish the building’s enduring significance from the concert dates, which change each year.

Lichtenstein Castle and hiking trails

Lichtenstein Castle was built from 1840 to 1842 on the foundations of an older knights’ castle. In the wider destination of Baden-Württemberg, it is known as a romantic historic castle and as the “fairy-tale castle of Württemberg.” Its construction history thus connects a 19th-century castle with a specific link to an older fortress. For visitors interested in historic buildings, this contrast in periods offers a distinctive way to experience the castle.

Public transport does not go directly to Lichtenstein Castle. The nearest bus stops are in Unterhausen (Oberhausener Steige), Honau and Traifelberg; from there, you can hike to the castle. As transport connections may change, check the latest services for your journey.

The hochgehberge hiking network includes 15 routes in the district of Reutlingen; the route network may be revised. One specific route is the Hochgehträumt circular hiking trail: it leads from Lichtenstein Castle along impressive scenic cliffs directly to Nebelhöhle Cave. This presents a district-wide hiking network alongside a circular trail with a named starting point and destination, without confusing the number of routes with a single trail.

Münsingen: Biosphere, museum and group activities

The Swabian Alb Biosphere Centre in Münsingen shares information about the nature, landscape and people of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Area. It uses interactive exhibits as well as audio and video features. The town museum, Stadtmuseum im Schloss, is housed in the Old Castle in Münsingen and presents the history and culture of the Münsinger Alb. The two venues thus have different focuses: the Biosphere Centre looks at the biosphere area, while the museum focuses on the Münsinger Alb.

The Biosphere Centre’s educational group activities include felting as well as planting, harvesting and cooking together. These hands-on group activities complement the information presented through interactive exhibits and audio and video features. If you plan to take part in one, check the latest programme details.

Guided tours of the former military training area

At the former Münsingen military training area, visitors are led by trained TrÜP guides on individual tours or together with other visitors on certain dates during the year. The site’s former status and the guided format are both part of the experience. These tours differ from a hiking trail with a named route: they are led by trained guides, and group tours take place only on certain days. If you plan a tour, check the latest dates and booking details.

Baden-Württemberg as a wider context

The wider destination of Baden-Württemberg also offers another perspective on nature and culture. Around 40 percent of the state is forested; its seven nature parks cover around one third of its area. The state’s official tourism strategy brings the visitor offering together under the themes of nature, culture, enjoyment and health. These figures describe Baden-Württemberg as a whole.

Baden-Württemberg’s cultural history includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura,” added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. The Venus of Hohle Fels, the Lion Man of Hohlenstein-Stadel and the oldest flutes known to date worldwide were found in caves in the Swabian Alb. These finds add an archaeological perspective to the region, alongside its buildings, museums and nature.

Discover more destinations: Hayingen, Zwiefalten, Bad Urach, Trochtelfingen, Sankt Johann, Riederich, Pliezhausen, Pfullingen, Münsingen, Metzingen, Dettingen An Der Erms, Sonnenbühl, Reutlingen, Gomadingen, Lichtenstein, Römerstein, Eningen Unter Achalm, Mehrstetten, Hülben, Hohenstein, Engstingen, Pfronstetten, Grafenberg.

To the wider travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.