Gschwend: Fairy-Tale Forest and Hagberg Tower on Two Hiking Routes

Their starting points and destinations differ significantly.

Two hiking routes in Gschwend

The “Tour 4 ‘Mushroom’” hiking route begins and ends at the natural swimming lake near Gschwend. Along the way, it passes through the Fairy-Tale Forest and by Kreuzstein. This means the route starts and ends in the same place, while the Fairy-Tale Forest and Kreuzstein are the waypoints described. Route details may change; check the latest information before setting out.

The “Idyllic Road Route F” starts at Gschwend’s market square and leads through woods and meadows to Hagberg Tower. The Art Nouveau structure dates back to 1901. While Route 4 starts and ends at the natural swimming lake, Route F lists the market square as its starting point and Hagberg Tower as its destination. The two descriptions therefore offer different points of reference to help you choose, without specifying a walking time or level of difficulty.

Hiking and culture in the wider destination of the Ostalbkreis

Hiking trails in the Ostalbkreis also take in places of historical interest. The Upper German-Raetian Limes has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Within the municipality of Rainau, it runs for about six kilometres through the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen. The Limes Park Rainau preserves significant sections and individual monuments in a unique concentration. A reconstructed watchtower offers panoramic views across the Ostalb; the Limestor Dalkingen is a unique structure along the entire Limes route between the Rhine and Danube.

The Limes circular hiking trail near Rainau is about eleven kilometres long and takes approximately two and a half hours on foot. Its signposted route runs from the Limes wall and the Limes tower between Buch and Schwabsberg, through the Mahdholz forest and along the Limes to the southern edge of Schwabsberg. Its approximate duration and length provide a concrete basis for planning; the route described also shows which stops are part of it.

Lorch Abbey offers a different focus on cultural history. It was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first Hohenstaufen ruler, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as a burial place. The complex includes a medieval church, the cloister, farm buildings and the Marsilius Tower, which offers views of the abbey grounds, herb garden, sensory garden and surrounding area. The permanent exhibition explores 900 years of monastic history; its exhibits include the richly decorated Lorch choir books. The architecture, the story of the abbey’s founding and the exhibition each offer their own perspective.

The Tiefer Stollen visitor mine focuses on the history of ore mining in the Aalen area. The mine train travels past mineral deposits and small stalactites into sandstone halls covering an area of 2,500 square metres, a hundred metres underground. A multimedia show there introduces visitors to the history of mining. A circular route through the labyrinth of tunnels also leads through former underground mining areas, with shafts, loading points and ore-mining chambers. A ride on the mine train and a look into former work areas thus offer different ways to experience the visitor mine.

The Ostalbkreis also offers opportunities to enjoy its landscapes: a hike through the Wental valley towards Steinheim is particularly suitable for families. From the trail, you can spot gnarled trees and bizarre rock formations in which, with a little imagination, you may make out fairy-tale characters and animals. For cycling trips, the Ostalb Cycling Circuit offers a different scale: it extends for around 305 kilometres and is divided into six stages and nine connecting routes that can be combined to suit your preferences. The route crosses the Ostalbkreis, repeatedly passes district boundaries and also runs through Heidenheim and Rems-Murr into the Bavarian district of Donau-Ries.

Discover more destinations: Adelmannsfelden, Ellwangen, Rainau, Waldhausen, Mutlangen, Neuler, Täferrot, Abtsgmünd

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Ostalbkreis.