Harburg Castle, the Fairy Tale Trail and the views from Bockberg give Harburg (Swabia) three clearly distinct highlights: history, a seasonal trail and landscape. Depending on whether you prefer historic rooms, a themed trail or a viewpoint, a different part of the town takes centre stage. When planning, the Fairy Tale Trail’s opening period and the seasonal opening of the castle tour are especially important.
Harburg Castle: History on a guided tour
On a tour of Harburg Castle, visitors experience almost 900 years of history. The route passes through the Baroque castle church and by loopholes, prison cells, gates and towers. The sacred space and defensive complex stand side by side on the same tour: the visit combines the castle church with the visible features of the castle fortifications. The tour is open seasonally. Check the visiting period before your trip so you can plan your castle visit accordingly.
The Harburg Fairy Tale Trail: Season, volunteers and access
The Harburg Fairy Tale Trail was launched in 2019 at the initiative of Gabi Steger. Since then, numerous Harburg residents have planned, built and maintained the trail as volunteers. It is open to visitors from mid-May until the end of the autumn school holidays and is free of charge. This offers a different focus from the castle tour: here, the emphasis is on a trail maintained locally through voluntary work.
Please note the specific access restriction in the castle grounds: the sections of the Harburg Fairy Tale Trail there are not accessible with a pushchair. If you are travelling with a pushchair, do not plan to use this area as a route you can traverse with it. Gabi Steger offers special guided tours of the Fairy Tale Trail; check in advance whether a tour is available during your travel dates.
Bockberg, hiking trails and Via Romea
Bockberg lies on the southeastern edge of the Ries crater. At 562 metres, it is one of the highest elevations in northern Swabia. From its observation platform, the view stretches across the Ries and the Wörnitz Valley as far as Donauwörth. Those interested in landscape and far-reaching views will find a different focus here than at the historic sites of Harburg Castle.
Harburg is also on varied hiking and cycling routes and is a stopping point on the Via Romea pilgrimage route. The viewpoint, routes and pilgrimage trail offer different ways to experience the town; they do not describe a single, shared route. You can therefore choose the focus of your trip without treating the castle tour, Fairy Tale Trail and landscape as though they were the same thing.
Culture and geology in the wider Donau-Ries destination
In the wider Donau-Ries destination, the Ries Geopark—with the Ries crater formed by a meteorite impact—is a tourist attraction. Nördlingen offers a different historical perspective: its medieval town wall is completely intact and fully accessible. The town museum displays a collection more than 150 years old across four floors. Its themes include life and faith in Nördlingen, the changes of the Reformation era, the Thirty Years’ War and the 1634 Battle of Nördlingen. A model featuring around 6,000 tin soldiers illustrates the battle.
The RiesKraterMuseum explores the asteroid impact that created the Nördlinger Ries, as well as its cosmic background and effects that continue to this day. Meteorites, fossils and a piece of genuine moon rock are part of the exhibition, alongside information panels and multimedia features. It is housed in a carefully renovated medieval barn dating from 1503. Thus, in the wider Donau-Ries area, the history of the towns and castles and the geological formation of the Ries are presented as distinct themes.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Oettingen in Bavaria, Kaisheim, Nördlingen, Oberndorf am Lech, Rain, Wemding, Tapfheim, Asbach-Bäumenheim.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Donau-Ries.
