Discover Dornstadt

If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Dornstadt, the area’s nature and cultural attractions can help you decide where to go. Forest trails, the Kiesental valley and St. Martin’s Church in Tomerdingen offer different ways to explore: walking in the woods, a distinctive landscape or the history of a church.

Forest Trails and Woodland Experiences

The forest adventure trail in Dornstadt is a walk of around an hour and a half for visitors of all ages. Its interactive and educational stations focus on the forest. At the “Tree Cross-Section” station, you can work out a tree’s age from its annual rings. At the “Tree Telephone,” children can tap out Morse code from one side of a trunk to the other. There are also three signposted running or jogging routes of different lengths in the forest along the trail.

For a different walking option, visitors can follow the edge of the forest for several kilometres or walk through the forest from the hiking car park at Oberer Forst in the Dornstadt district. The forest adventure trail has an approximate duration, while this option covers a distance of several kilometres. Together, these routes offer different ways to explore the forest, with different information to help you plan.

Kiesental Valley and Landscape

The Kiesental valley in Bollingen is a former stream or river valley that has dried up over time and is now waterless. Juniper heathland and numerous deciduous and coniferous tree species characterise the landscape. The Bioversum Bollingen biodiversity trail includes one station on juniper heathland and another on nutrient-poor grassland. These two specific landscape features are also relevant when exploring the Kiesental valley.

Three Nordic walking routes were established in the Kiesental valley in 2009. Sports clubs from Bollingen and Blaustein took part, together with the German Ski Association. There are also three public barbecue areas in the Dornstadt municipal area, equipped with fire rings, grills and seating. Prior registration is required to use them. If you’re planning to visit, be sure to register in advance.

Church and Cultural History

The listed St. Martin’s Church in Tomerdingen is owned by the municipality of Dornstadt. It is used for church services, weddings, baptisms and concerts. During guided tours or visits, visitors can learn about the church’s long history.

The history of the “Citizens Make Programmes for Fellow Citizens” working group is also part of local cultural life. It was founded in June 2012 with volunteers. Its first event took place in October 2013, featuring Blechimpuls at the premises of the Hilscher company.

Regional Context: Alb-Donau District

The Alb-Donau District is part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. One of the wider destination’s distinctive cultural attractions is the Hohle Fels cave near Schelklingen. The cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the place where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute” were found. Both finds are around 42,500 years old. The Stone Age village of Ehrenstein in Blaustein is a Neolithic settlement in the Blau valley and is part of the transnational and serial UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”

The Obermarchtal Monastery complex is another attraction in the Alb-Donau District. It stands directly above the Danube and acquired its present form between 1686 and 1795. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085; today, its buildings are mainly in the Gothic style and date from 1466 to 1510.

For hiking, the Alb-Donau District has 20 circular “Ice Age Trails,” ranging from 6 to 14 kilometres and suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Traces” are 1 to 6 kilometres long; the Path of Reflection is intended for multi-day tours. Regional cycling options include the 75-kilometre “Ice Age Valleys” route, the 115-kilometre “Berg Bier Tour” and the 186-kilometre “Albtäler” cycle route, which has been awarded four stars.

Discover more destinations: Lonsee, Langenau, Bernstadt, Merklingen, Erbach, Nerenstetten, Westerheim, Rammingen.

See the main travel overview: Alb-Donau District.