Meßstetten combines marked hiking trails with viewpoints along the steep Albtrauf escarpment and a diverse local history. Around the town and its districts, you’ll find a range of ways to explore nature and culture: from signposted trails and a circular route with artworks to museums and historic routes.
Hiking Trails and Viewpoints
Marked, well-signposted trails lead through nature rich in species, while viewpoints along the steep Albtrauf escarpment are a defining feature of the hiking options. The free Meßstetten hiking and leisure map covers the premium HochAlbPfade trails, shorter circular walks, and day-trip tips. It offers a starting point for choosing between the different types of routes and planning your own tour.
The Sculpture Panorama Trail is a circular route about 1,000 meters long, featuring eleven sculptures by artists from the region. It is particularly suitable for people who use walking aids, wheelchair users accompanied by someone, users of electric wheelchairs, and families with strollers. As changes to the trail surface can affect accessibility, check current trail conditions before your visit.
In the district of Tieringen, the approximately 850-meter-long barefoot trail features a variety of surfaces: sand, clay, mud, pebbles, bark mulch, forest floor, and meadow. Also in Tieringen, Nordic walking routes pass through the Hülenbuch nature reserve and along the Tieringer Hörnle, with its viewpoints. This gives you a choice of different types of routes, from experiencing different surfaces through your senses to exercising on designated trails.
Summer at the Reservoir and Culture in the Districts
In the district of Oberdigisheim, the Oberdigisheim reservoir offers opportunities for swimming in summer. There is also a circular path along the shore, a playground, and two barbecue areas. If you’d like to combine swimming with a walk, you can plan to enjoy these options together. Check swimming conditions and the state of the facilities before you travel.
In Hossingen, the local history museum stands next to the Protestant church. The historic Hossinger Leiter is also associated with the district; this route is linked to former work routes in the direction of Lautlingen and Ebingen. It offers a different perspective on local history from the collections in the museums.
The Meßstetten Museum of Folk Art displays more than 1,300 objects across four floors. The collection consists mainly of folk art from the southern German-speaking region and includes pieces from the 17th to the 19th century. A particular highlight is twelve of the 42 rare pairs of figures from Anton Sohn’s Basel Dance of Death. St. Lamprecht’s Church is also part of the town’s history: Meßstetten received its own church in the 12th or 13th century.
More to Explore in the Zollernalb District
In the wider destination of the Zollernalb district, the Schlichem Hiking Trail offers a longer hiking option. The 33-kilometer route runs from Meßstetten-Tieringen to Epfendorf, passing through varied landscapes with small waterfalls, wet meadows, and a steep-sided gorge.
Also in the wider destination of the Zollernalb district is Hohenzollern Castle. The present-day castle is the third fortress on the Zollerberg, 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, it was rebuilt between 1850 and 1867. Today, its cultural program includes concerts, family days, open-air cinema, and exhibitions. The castle is open to visitors daily and offers a glimpse of its historic rooms; check current visiting hours before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Geislingen, Dormettingen, Bisingen, Haigerloch, Zimmern Unter Der Burg, Balingen, Dotternhausen, Laufen.
Back to the main travel overview: Zollernalbkreis.
