Discover Lonsee: Lake, Landscape and History

Lonsee brings together a waterside landscape, the natural beauty of the Swabian Alb and historic landmarks. The town lies on the Swabian Alb, surrounded by juniper heaths and woodland, at the beginning of the Lone Valley. These themes offer different points of interest as you plan your trip.

Water and Landscape in Lonsee

Lake Lonesee has existed since 1978. A body of water like this is rare on the Swabian Alb, and the lake is used especially by waterbirds. In 2014, it underwent extensive renovation, including its dam and island, to protect the water balance. This renovation is part of the lake’s history and also explains the purpose of the two structures.

At Lake Lonesee, an experience trail offers a variety of ways to engage with water and raises awareness of the lake’s fragile habitat. The Lone’s inflow is also part of this waterscape: a waterwheel channels it into Lake Lonesee. A diverse range of plant and animal life has established itself at the lake. For nature enthusiasts, this offers a distinct focus alongside the town’s cultural history.

One seasonal feature of the juniper heaths is the pasqueflowers: in April, they bloom in full in the sunshine. Salachberg is a viewpoint offering a panorama of the town and its surroundings. At Urspring, the Lone rises from a spring pool at 562 m above sea level; the pool is 6 m deep and 10 m in diameter. These measurements give the spring a clear sense of scale without replacing the wider landscape view.

Roman Traces and Architectural History

The Roman Road connects the town with its Roman past. It begins at the town hall in the town center. In the landscape, the Roman fort “Ad Lunam” can now only be made out by the rectangular arrangement of the hedge strips; an information sign describes the Roman site. The fort dates from 81 to 160 AD. The visible hedge strips and the sign thus offer different clues to the former location of the fort.

The Protestant choir-tower church of St. Mary in Lonsee is another historic landmark. It was built in the mid-19th century. Oil paintings of the twelve apostles by Christoph Nikolaus Kleemann hang on its north, east and south walls. The paintings, executed on wood, measure 77 × 68 cm. The church, its construction date, the artist and the paintings’ dimensions offer a concrete insight into the building’s history and furnishings without conflating the different details.

Another work of art is the wooden sculpture “Stone Age Man at Lake Lonesee.” It weighs 17 tonnes and is 6 meters high. Its size makes it a distinct point of interest alongside the church and the Roman traces.

Regional Context: Alb-Donau District

The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district has its own landscape and cultural attractions. The Alb-Donau district is part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. Near Schelklingen is Hohle Fels, a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the discovery site of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Geierknochenflöte” (“Vulture Bone Flute”); both finds are about 42,500 years old. Blaubeuren Abbey is also in the Alb-Donau district. Founded in 1085 as a Benedictine monastery, it now consists mainly of Gothic-style buildings dating from 1466 to 1510. These regional examples broaden the picture of Lonsee while remaining distinct places and attractions in the Alb-Donau district.

Discover more destinations: Breitingen, Westerheim, Nerenstetten, Blaubeuren, Ehingen, Dietenheim, Erbach, Emerkingen

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Alb-Donau District.