Hohenzollern Castle is the third fortress on Mount Zoller. It belongs to the municipality of Bisingen and is located within the boundaries of the district of Zimmern. Its history tells of a new beginning after two breaks: both earlier castles were destroyed and fell into ruin; from 1850 to 1867, the present castle was rebuilt. Here, you can encounter a historic site whose present appearance dates back to this later reconstruction.
Hohenzollern Castle: History, State Rooms and Culture
The castle is open to visitors daily and offers a glimpse into its historic state rooms. As visiting times can change, check the current opening hours before you travel. The cultural program includes numerous concerts, family days, open-air cinema and exhibitions. Alongside the historic rooms, changing cultural events are therefore also part of the castle’s character; you can make specific events a focus of your visit.
The Alb Landscape and Geological Discoveries
The Zollernalb lies in the western part of the UNESCO Swabian Alb Geopark, where the mountains are at their highest. The Schlichem Hiking Trail reveals another side of this landscape: the 33-kilometer route runs from Meßstetten-Tieringen to Epfendorf and includes small waterfalls, wet meadows and a steep-sided gorge. The route and the landforms go hand in hand here—from the trail passing through different natural areas to the striking gorge.
Geological features also lend the region a distinctive character. Geological natural spectacles in the Zollernalb include the Zillhausen Waterfall and the sea of rocks below the Hörnle. Above Nusplingen, the Geological Trail ends at a rock-knocking site on the Westerberg. The waterfall, sea of rocks and trail offer different ways to explore geology, without needing to be combined into a single tour.
Hiking, Cycling and Seasonal Activities
Hikers can choose from fourteen premium trails: eleven in Albstadt and three in Meßstetten. There are also more than 100 signposted circular hiking trails. The “Hike Like Everyone Else” offering showcases a variety of varied tours that are also suitable for people with disabilities. If you would like to combine nature with background knowledge, Albguide tours share insights into regional wildlife and plant life, as well as history, prehistory, archaeology and geology. Booking an Albguide tour is recommended.
There are specific options for other interests, too: the Alb foothills offer leisurely family bike rides, for example at the Schömberg Reservoir. You can hike with a donkey at the Lochen. In winter, the Zollernalb has numerous cross-country ski trails and ski lifts. The seasonal range thus extends from hiking and cycling to winter sports; which activities matter for your trip also depends on when you visit.
The Martinus Trail is another part of the region’s cultural offerings: four stages of this European cultural route cross the Zollernalb. It complements the nature-focused themes with a cultural route through the region, offering a different emphasis from hikes that focus primarily on the landscape or geology.
Getting Around and Planning Your Trip
For travel during the 2026 leisure transport season, the Schieferbahn railway runs directly from Balingen to Dotternhausen and Schömberg, with no changes. The season runs until October 18, 2026. Also during the 2026 leisure transport season, the Nauf-Nab-Trauf bus connects Hechingen with the Nägelehaus in Albstadt-Onstmettingen. If you plan to use either of these connections, check the timetable in advance.
Start planning with the discoveries that interest you most, while keeping the Zollernalb’s different themes in mind.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Meßstetten, Tieringen, Winterlingen, Obernheim, Hechingen, Haigerloch, Balingen, Albstadt, Burladingen, Unterdigisheim, Laufen, Geislingen, Grosselfingen, Jungingen, Zimmern Unter Der Burg, Weilen Unter Den Rinnen, Schömberg, Rosenfeld, Ratshausen, Hausen Am Tann, Dotternhausen, Dormettingen, Dautmergen, Bisingen, Nusplingen.
To the overview of the wider region: Baden-WĂĽrttemberg.
