Schelklingen: Nature, History and Trails

Schelklingen offers a range of options for a trip: the surface area of Lake Schmiechen, which varies greatly depending on precipitation; the setting of Hohenschelklingen Castle Ruins; a historic town walk; and hiking and cycling tours. You can tailor your stay to whether nature, history or activity is your main focus.

Landscape between lake and valley

The surface area of Lake Schmiechen expands considerably in years with high precipitation and can shrink to a few small pools in dry years. Its extent therefore changes significantly from year to year; precipitation patterns are part of the natural landscape described here. When planning your visit, it is worth bearing this variability in mind rather than assuming the lake will have a constant surface area.

Hohenschelklingen Castle Ruins have a different connection to the landscape. They are situated on a mountain spur whose western side projects far into the Schelklingen Valley, formed by the ancient Danube. While the lake is defined by its changing size, the ruins stand out for their position in the terrain. Schelklingen thus offers two distinct landscape features: a body of water with a variable surface area and a mountain spur that projects far into the valley.

Town history and culture

The historic town walk takes you through Schelklingen via twenty stops; information about the route is available to download. The stops provide a clear thread for the tour if you want to explore the town with a focus on history. The number of stops makes the walk a distinct way to discover the town’s history.

The former Benedictine monastery of Urspring lies in the ancient Danube bend, near Schelklingen. It was founded in 1127 and dissolved in 1806. These two dates mark the beginning and end of the monastery. As a historic point of interest in the surrounding area, Urspring extends the historical perspective beyond the town walk.

There is a pottery workshop at the Schelklingen Town Museum. Pottery demonstrations and pottery courses can be booked on request, subject to availability. This adds a hands-on activity to the historic walk; both offers are subject to the same request and availability conditions.

In the wider travel destination of the Alb-Donau district, the Hohle Fels cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Schelklingen, is where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture-bone flute” were discovered. Both finds are about 42,500 years old. Compared with Urspring Monastery, these finds place the region’s cultural history in a much earlier period. This offers a chance to explore archaeological and monastic history as distinct themes.

Hiking and cycling tours

Several challenging and scenic multi-day hikes in the Swabian Alb pass through Schelklingen. The Albwasser Tour is also one of Schelklingen’s themed circular routes. Each offers a different focus: the multi-day hikes are explicitly described as longer and challenging, while the Albwasser Tour is defined by its theme. Cycling tours invite you to explore Schelklingen as well as the Ach and Schmiech valleys.

The wider Alb-Donau district offers more hiking options: the 20 “Ice Age Trails” are 6 to 14 km long and suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Tracks” cover 1 to 6 km; there is also the Contemplation Trail for multi-day tours. This gives you a choice of different lengths and tour formats across the Alb-Donau district, placing Schelklingen’s hiking options in a regional context.

Discover more destinations: Blaustein, Dornstadt, Merklingen, Kirchen, Öpfingen, Amstetten, Staig, Asselfingen

View the wider travel overview: Alb-Donau district.