Discover Gruibingen: Reußenstein Loop and gliding at Nortel

Nature and cycling in Gruibingen

The municipal area of Gruibingen lies within the European bird sanctuary Albtrauf. Gruibinger Wiesle is situated at about 760 m above sea level. The Löwentrail cycling loop “Reußenstein Loop” runs through the mountains and forests around Gruibingen and is a mountain biking route. These three facts represent different aspects of a stay: the municipality’s connection to the protected area, the elevation of Wiesle, and a specific cycling route. They offer different points of reference for understanding Gruibingen’s landscape and identifying a focus for cycling.

Gliding at Nortel

In good weather, gliders take off and land at the airfield on Nortel at weekends, and walkers can watch the aircraft take off and land. If you plan to include this in your itinerary, check local flight operations for the weekend you have in mind. This gives you two specific options with different characters: the mountain bike loop as an activity in its own right, and watching gliders as something to observe.

Hiking and mountain biking in the wider destination of Göppingen

The Löwenpfade in Göppingen district are attractive circular hiking trails ranging from 3 to 24 kilometres. They can be hiked in either direction and are signposted and marked in both directions. At the start of each Löwenpfad, an information board shows the route, elevation profile and sights along the way. When choosing a hike, you can therefore consider more than just the distance: elevation profiles and information about points of interest are also available on the information boards at the trailheads.

For mountain bikes, the range in Göppingen district includes four Löwentrails, with routes between 16 and 30 kilometres long; they are particularly suitable for beginners and e-mountain bikers. The distance ranges overlap from 16 to 24 kilometres. The number of kilometres alone therefore does not indicate whether a route is for hiking or mountain biking. The route type also matters, as does the Löwentrails’ explicitly stated suitability for beginners and e-mountain bikers.

The Albtäler cycling route in Göppingen district

The “Albtäler” cycling route covers a different scale: it is 186 kilometres long, runs through Göppingen district as well as the neighbouring districts of Heidenheim and Alb-Donau-Kreis, and is a quality cycling route through the most beautiful valleys of the Swabian Alb, awarded four stars by the German Cyclists’ Federation. Compared with the Löwentrails, which are 16 to 30 kilometres long, it is considerably longer and crosses district boundaries. This makes it possible to compare regional loop routes with a cycling route that passes through several districts as different scales of trip.

Culture in Göppingen district

The Märklineum in Göppingen presents the more than 165-year history of Märklin and its products. Wäscher Castle in Wäschenbeuren dates from the early 13th century. The wider destination of Göppingen thus offers everything from corporate and product history to a castle of medieval origin.

Discover more destinations: Geislingen An Der Steige, Süßen, Hohenstadt, Donzdorf, Ottenbach, Schlat, Salach, Eislingen/Fils

To the wider travel overview: Göppingen.