Discover Blaubeuren and find hotels

Blaubeuren can be explored from several perspectives: the town is associated with the Blautopf, Blaubeuren Abbey and hiking trails around the town. If you are looking for a hotel in Blaubeuren, you can plan your stay around these highlights: Would you mainly like to explore the landscape, take a tour of the monastery or plan a hike?

The Blautopf and the landscape

The Blautopf is a karst spring in a valley basin in Blaubeuren, displaying shades of blue and green. Its funnel-shaped spring pool is 20.6 metres deep and continues into a water-filled cave in the limestone of the Lower Felsenkalk Formation. This means that both the visible spring and its geological continuation in the limestone are part of the Blautopf.

Access conditions are important when planning your visit: after temporary restrictions due to construction work, the Blautopf reopened to everyone on 15 January 2025; renovation work was still underway at that time. Check the current access conditions before your visit.

Blaubeuren Abbey and the bathhouse

Blaubeuren Abbey was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085. Today, its buildings date mainly from the Gothic construction period between 1466 and 1510. The choir is considered the centrepiece of the complex. A guided tour takes visitors through the abbey courtyard, the cloister with its cloister walk and garden, the choir with its high altar, and the monks’ medieval bathhouse.

The bathhouse is the only surviving bathhouse of its kind in Germany. Together with the choir and the other stops on the tour, it offers a distinct focus for anyone who would like to experience Blaubeuren as more than just a hiking destination. The historic rooms and the spring represent different sides of the town: monastic history on the one hand and karst landscape on the other.

Hiking around Blaubeuren

The Blaubeurer Felsenstieg is a moderately challenging certified hiking trail and circular route around Blaubeuren. It is part of the Eiszeitpfade (Ice Age Trails) network. The route is listed as 10.40 kilometres long, taking 3 hours 30 minutes, with 440 metres of ascent and 440 metres of descent. These figures help you estimate the time needed for this particular hike; route details may change if the trail is modified. Check the information before setting out.

The Blaubeuren branch of the Swabian Alb Association has also selected rewarding circular and point-to-point hikes in the Blaubeuren area. They complement the premium hiking trails suggested by the town: the Eiszeitjägerpfad (Ice Age Hunter Trail) and Blaubeurer Felsenstieg. The selection therefore includes both circular and point-to-point hikes; individual hikes may vary. The Felsenstieg has a clearly defined time commitment thanks to its stated length and duration, while the other hikes vary according to their respective routes.

Seasonal panoramic tour and visitor information

From April to October, the Blautopfbähnle takes visitors on a panoramic tour through Blaubeuren’s medieval lanes and along idyllic paths to viewpoints. The ride is therefore a seasonal addition to a monastery tour or hike. Check the current operating dates before travelling.

The Historic Hammer Mill in Blaubeuren is closed until the end of 2028 due to extensive renovation work in the Blautopf area. Check the mill’s current status before your visit. The Blautopf, hammer mill, monastery and Felsenstieg each have different visitor conditions; take these into account when planning your stay.

More to explore in the Alb-Donau district

The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district offers other distinct attractions that should not be confused with the sights in Blaubeuren. Near Schelklingen is Hohle Fels, a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the findspot of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute”. Both finds are about 42,500 years old. The Alb-Donau district is also part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve.

The hiking opportunities in the Alb-Donau district also form a distinct regional offering: 20 circular routes on the Eiszeitpfade are 6 to 14 kilometres long and suitable for day hikes. In addition, there are family-friendly Eiszeitspuren (Ice Age Traces), ranging from 1 to 6 kilometres, as well as the Besinnungsweg (Contemplation Trail) for multi-day hikes. This information refers to the wider destination of the Alb-Donau district.

Align your travel dates with the respective visitor conditions.

Discover more destinations: Erbach, Blaustein, Staig, Weidenstetten, Dietenheim, Öllingen, Illerrieden, Breitingen.

Back to the main travel overview: Alb-Donau district.