You can discover Balingen in a variety of ways: the Late Gothic town church on the market square tells the story of the town’s architecture, the Zollern Castle explores the development of weighing scales, and the Eyach nature trail leads along the river. This makes culture, the history of technology and a walk the focus of your trip planning, which you can combine with a shopping trip. If you are looking for a hotel, these interests may influence your choice of where to stay.
Town Church, Zollern Castle and the History of Weighing
The Protestant town church on the market square is a Late Gothic hall church. It was built between 1443 and 1541 as an addition and extension to St Nicholas’s Chapel, which is documented as early as the 14th century. The long construction period and the connection with the older chapel give the building a clear historical link to the town.
Zollern Castle was rebuilt between 1935 and 1937, partly using old building components and following the original design. The castle’s Weighing Museum presents almost the entire 2,000-year history of the weighing scale through around 600 exhibits. A tour brings knowledge of weighing technology to life. Check the current visitor arrangements before your visit. The church and museum thus offer different perspectives: Late Gothic sacred architecture on the one hand, and the history of a measuring instrument spanning many centuries on the other.
A Walk along the Eyach and Art by the Water
The Eyach nature trail begins at Zollern Castle. A walk along the trail can be combined with a shopping trip. If you would like to do both, you can plan the route as a link between a visit to the castle area and a stroll around town; check the current route before setting off.
A distinctive art installation on the Eyach is the chair by Rottweil artist Jürgen Knubben, born in 1955. It has stood in the “Klein Venedig” area since 2005. This adds a public artwork in a specific waterside location to the town’s architectural and technological history.
The Ostdorf Farm Museum offers a different focus. Ostdorf is a district of Balingen; the museum displays an extensive collection of farming equipment in the lower rooms of the town hall. Visits must be arranged in advance with the Ostdorf local administration. This is important for your planning if you would like to include a museum visit in your stay.
More Cultural and Nature Destinations in the Zollernalb District
The wider travel destination of the Zollernalb district offers other, distinct themes. The present-day Hohenzollern Castle is the third fortress on Zollerberg. It belongs to the municipality of Bisingen and is located within the boundaries of the district of Zimmern. After its two predecessors were destroyed and fell into ruin, the castle was rebuilt between 1850 and 1867. Its cultural programme includes concerts, family days, open-air cinema and exhibitions. The castle is open to visitors daily and offers a glimpse into its historic rooms; check the opening times before your visit, as operating schedules may change.
At 33 kilometres long, the Schlichem Trail offers a different scale of hike from Balingen’s individual town attractions. It leads from Meßstetten-Tieringen to Epfendorf and passes small waterfalls, wet meadows and a steep-sided gorge. Another nature highlight is the Geological Trail on Westerberg above Nusplingen, which ends at a rock-knocking site. The Zollernalb lies in the western part of the Swabian Alb UNESCO Global Geopark, where the mountains reach their greatest heights.
Seasonal Connections in 2026
During the 2026 leisure transport season, the Schieferbahn runs directly from Balingen to Dotternhausen and Schömberg, without requiring a change. The season runs until 18 October 2026. Another service during the 2026 leisure transport season is the Nauf-Nab-Trauf bus between Hechingen and the Nägelehaus in Albstadt-Onstmettingen. Check the timetable and the services operating on your travel date before setting off. This allows you to consider Balingen as a starting point for your stay while deciding which regional destinations and seasonal connections suit your plans.
Discover more destinations: Endingen, Laufen, Weilen Unter Den Rinnen, Rosenfeld, Obernheim, MeĂźstetten, Bisingen, Jungingen.
Back to the main travel overview: Zollernalb District.
