The Central Swabian Alb Visitor...

The Central Swabian AlbVisitor Information

Information about the Biosphere Region Swabian Alb

2 // Central Swabian Alb

Be in the thick of it – the heart of the Alb

Gütersteiner Waterfalls

Visitor Information // 3

A Landscape as beautiful as a painting for you to discover – it is often called the “Mystic Swabian Alb” with a hundred faces and a thou-sand ways to be discovered. Be surprised by the magnificent activities it has to offer.

4 // Culinary Delights

Swabian culinary delights

Swabian sausage salad


Swabian cuisine can be both delicate and hearty. After shopping, discover the diversity of Swabian cuisine in cozy street cafés and rustic taverns. Tasty regional specialties are also avail-able at various weekly markets.

Roast Beef with onions and Spätzle (typical, homemade noodles)(Zwiebelrostbraten mit Spätzle)

Lentils with Spätzle and sausages (Linsen mit Spätzle und Saitenwürstchen)

Mutscheln (Swabian bakery speciality)

6 // Hiking and Bicycling

Hiking and bicycling in the heart of nature

View of the Erms Valley

Large Lauter Valley


Experience wide open spaces Enjoy a magnificent view of the Albtrauf, the rim of the Swabian Alb, deep valleys and ragged rock formations on well marked paths. Select a com-fortable route or go on a demanding tour – Set your own pace.

Canoe trip on the Lauter

8 // Highlights

Central Swabian Alb Highlights

In the heart of Baden-WurttembergOne of Germany’s most beautiful sceneries awaits you south of Stuttgart – grand palaces, castles, ruins and baroque churches.

Pointed rock in the Lauter Valley

Bear cave at Sonnenbühl

Baroque churchin Zwiefalten


Lichtenstein castle, town landmark of Reutlingen

10 // Highlights

Bad Urach Waterfalls



Water world Impressive waterfalls and mineral springs – simply dive in and relax.

Thermal springs in Bad Urach

Thermal springs in Bad Urach

12 // Highlights


Lauter Valley

Court and state farmat Marbach


Fashion outlets in Metzingen

Urban shopping meets nature. A combination with a very special touch:Shop for discount brand name fashions at the outlet mall in Metzingen or shop in downtown Reutlingen. Stay a few extra days to relax and enjoy nature in the Central Swabian Alb region.

Fashion outlets in Metzingen

Market square in Reutlingen

Philharmonic Orchestra of Wurttemberg in Reutlingen

“Concrete Art” Endowmentin Reutlingen

14 // Highlights

Gothic Church of the Holy Mary in ReutlingenMarket hall in Reutlingen


Urban life and culture in the “small” metropolis of Reutlingen at the foot of the Swabian Alb. Stroll through this popular shopping city with a multitude of bargains, a weekly market and a modern market hall and relax in one of the many cafés and restaurants. Enjoy the superior cultural highlights – the Central Swabian Alb is more than just a unique piece of nature.

Leisure shopping Wilhelmstrasse Reutlingen


Biosphere Swabian Alb The northern rim of the Swabian Alb, the so-called Albtrauf, with expanded forest lined gorges, fruit orchards and a great multitude of hedgerows and juniper heaths on the high plains of the Alb contribute to the very special atmosphere of the Biosphere Swabian Alb. Meet up with 328 square miles of unequalled history and traditional culture. No place else in Baden-Württemberg you will encounter such a multitude of habitats, rare flora and fauna, as well as cultural and historic points of interest. That is why the UNESCO awarded this region the title “Biosphere Reserve” in 2009.

You and your family can hike and bicycle directly from your door, take a guided tour, walk along heritage and adventure trails, visit landmarks and museums, enjoy regional foods and experience a whole lot more in the peaceful and beautiful set-ting called the Biosphere Swabian Alb. Simply stop by and see for yourself!

UNESCO Biosphere Swabian Alb Office Biosphere Swabian Alb:Altes Lager Gebäude R 1372525 Münsingen-AuingenPhone: 07381 [email protected] www.biosphaerengebiet-alb.de

Falkenstein Cave

16 // Highlights

Pfullingen

ReutlingenWannweil

Pliezhausen

Walldorfhäslach Grafenberg

Pfronstetten

Riederich

Engstingen

Sonnenbühl

Trochtelfingen

Eningen u. Achalm

Metzingen

KohlbergNeuffen

OwenBeuren

Weilheima.d. Teck

Bissingena.d. Teck

GrabenstettenDettingena.d. Erms Wester-

heim

Münsingen

Mehrstetten

Römerstein

NeidlingenLenningen

Erkenbrechtsweiler

Hülben

Bad Urach

SanktJohann

Gomadingen Schelklingen

Hayingen

Hohenstein

Ehingen (Donau)

Lauterach

Zwiefalten

county ofReutlingen

external border ofthe biosphere

community border

development area

preservation area

core area

GutsbezirkMünsingen

Dettingenu. Teck

LichtensteinHolzelfingen

Stuttgart approx. 25km

Ulmapprox. 15km



People of the Central Swabian Alb are said to be a bit rough and unconventional, yet very endear-ing - just like the landscape that surrounds them. This low mountain range in the heart of Baden-Württemberg has an enchanting natural charm. It is located about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart and offers a wide range of enjoyable experiences: Nature, culture and scenic villages.For an active holiday as well as for families with children, the Central Swabian Alb offers much to experience and discover. You can hike, bicy-cle or ride a horse along one of the many paths to explore the karst landscape with its juniper heaths, jagged rock formations and gentle val-leys beyond well worn tourist paths. All along the northern rim, the so-called Albtrauf, you have a splendid view onto the foreland.

Central Swabian Alb


This region was recently awarded the UNESCO title “Biosphere Reserve” for its continuous develop-ment efforts that benefit both man and nature. It covers approx. 850 square kilometers and houses 29 communities. The heart of this “biosphere” is the former military training area in Münsingen, a great place to take a hike or go on a bicycle trip. These grasslands are typical for the highlands found on the Alb in the 19th century.The Large Lauter Valley enchants with magical nature and an exciting history: You can bicycle, canoe and visit the ruins of a number of medieval castles. From the castle tower you have a majes-tic view across the valley onto the winding silver loops of the Large Lauter river. Dense forests huddle against the hillside, sheep and horses graze on the meadows. Agriculture still plays an

important role in this part of the Central Swabian Alb, and many farmers have committed them-selves to ecologically sustainable. They produce a rich selection of regional specialities offered at homesteads and in restaurants throughout the region. Culinary delights like homemade cider from local orchards, the hearty filled dumplings called “Maultaschen” or cheese from genuine Alb buffaloes also make this region worth visiting.

>>


When it comes to overnight accommodations the hosts on the Alb are very creative: the conven-tional hotel with a feather bed is replaced with a bed of hay in a shepherd’s carriage or a rustic bicycling hostel.Horse lovers must visit the court and state farm at Marbach. In the 15th century, noble men started having their horses bred here and today this state operated farm is especially known for breed-ing Arabian horses. Also discover the geologi-cal history of the Alb in a number of caves. This region was awarded the seal of quality “Geo Park Swabian Alb”. The Wimsener Höhle, the cave at Wimsen near Hayingen, for example, is the only water cave in Germany accessible by boat – here you can travel 75 yards into the earth. Also visit the Bärenhöhle, the bear cave, near Sonnenbühl to admire bizarre stalagmite formations and let the bear skeletons remind you of the ancient history of this part of the country.

The peripheral region of the Alb is also very attrac-tive: Ermstal, the Erms Valley, is known for its cherry trees with fabulous cherry blossoms in the spring time. The City of Metzingen offers an urban flair in an idyllic setting. It is surrounded by vine-yards and well known for its fashion outlets. Relax and regenerate yourself in the saunas and spas with hot springs in the nearby city of Bad Urach.(The word “Bad” before a city name means that a city is distinguished as spa city.)The old imperial town of Reutlingen, the University City of Tübingen on the Neckar and Ulm with its world famous minster are also worth visiting and can be conveniently reached by car.


Wimsener Höhle (Wimsen Cave)

Bärenhöhle (Bear cave)

22 //

The Central Swabian Alb: South of Stuttgart between Neckar and DonauMap scale 1 : 285 000


Tübingen

Reutlingen

Metzingen

Römerstein

Bad Urach

Münsingen

Zwiefalten

Trochtelfingen

Sonnenbühl

Stuttgart

Ulm

InterchangeStuttgart

InterchangeLeonberg

DirectionKarlsruhe

Direction Singen

DirectionHeilbronn

DirectionWürzburg

Direction Kempten

DirectionMünchen

A 8

A 8A 81

A 81

A 7

A 7

B 464

B 465

B 313

B 312

B 312

B 311

B 312B 313

B 465

B 28

B 27

B 28

B 28

Herrenberg

Böblingen DegerlochWendlingen

Kirchheim Teck Ost

Merklingen

K 7423 InterchangeUlmUlm O.

Ulm W.

How to get there

Via car> A 8 from Karlsruhe: Exit Stuttgart-Degerloch,

B 27 / 312 Metzingen / Reutlingen or B 28 Bad Urach.

> A 8 from Munich: Exit Merklingen, Bad Urach or Münsingen.

> A 81 from Singen: Exit Herrenberg, B 28 via Tübingen and Metzingen to Bad Urach.

Via train> Railway line Stuttgart-Tübingen to Metzingen,

transfer to connection Metzingen-Bad Urach,> Bus connection from Bad Urach, Reutlingen and

Münsingen to the Central Swabian Alb.

Via planeAirport Stuttgart (Echterdingen), continue via bus or train.

Imprint

Editor: Tourist Association Swabian Alb and Alb Foreland Admini-strative District Reutlingen e.V.

Chairman: Eugen Schäufele, Bank Director,Chairman Board of Directors Savings Bank ReutlingenChief Executive Officer: Wolfgang Schütz

Tourist Association “Mythos Schwäbische Alb”, Kaiserstrasse 27, 72764 Reutlingen, Phone 07121 [email protected], www.mythos-schwaebische-alb.de

Translation: Bettina Mauthe-Peters

Design, layout: Apollo 11 GmbH, Reutlingen

Photographs: Michael Abele (Reutlingen), Felix Fuchs (Römer-stein), Manfred Grohe (Kirchentellinsfurt), Thomas Kiehl (Met-zingen), Markus Mahle (Stuttgart), Achim Mende (Überlingen), Wolfgang Ott (Munich), Public Relations: Walter Röhm (Bad Urach), Schwabenlandfilm GmbH / Sabine Stumpp (Laible&Frisch), Achim Sperber (Hamburg), Bernhard Trucksäß (Munich), Tourist Office Picture Library or Tourist InformationRegional map: TÜK200, Federal Office for Carthography, FrankfurtMap: Geobasisinformations, © Federal Office for Cartography and Geodesy

Print: Print Shop Leibfarth + Schwarz, Dettingen / ErmsData was provided by the city and town managements, tourist information and the service providers for tourism.Version: October 2009. We are not responsible for the correctness of this information.Information about hosts and the current version of visitor informa-tion are available under www.mythos-schwaebische-alb.de

Tourism Association Mythos Schwäbische AlbKaiserstraße 27, 72764 ReutlingenPhone 07121 [email protected]

Magdeburg

Düsseldorf

Bochum

Wuppertal

Wiesbaden

MainzSaarbrücken

Stuttgart

München

DresdenErfurt

Leipzig

Potsdam

BerlinHannover

Bremen

HamburgSchwerin

Kiel

www.geopark-alb.de www.biosphaerengebiet-alb.de

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