Discover Göppingen: Landscapes, Trails and Culture

In the district of Göppingen, you’ll encounter many different sides of the region: hiking trails and cycling routes, orchard landscapes and historic sites. The Märklineum in Göppingen offers a unique way to explore local history. It presents Märklin’s more than 165-year corporate history and its products. This allows you to complement plans for outdoor experiences with a specific cultural visit.

Compare hiking trails and cycling tours

The Löwenpfade are circular hiking trails in the district of Göppingen, ranging from 3 to 24 kilometres in length. They can be walked in either direction and are signposted and marked both ways. At each starting point, you’ll find an information board showing the route, an elevation profile and sights along the way. This gives you an idea of the route and elevation changes before setting off.

There are also four Löwentrails for mountain bikes. These circular routes range from 16 to 30 kilometres in length. They are particularly suitable for beginners and e-mountain bikers. The two offerings differ mainly in how you travel and in their stated route lengths: the Löwenpfade are for hikers, while the Löwentrails are for mountain bikers. The stated route lengths help you plan the tours for the day; the elevation profile also provides guidance for the Löwenpfade.

The 186-kilometre “Albtäler” cycle route passes through the district of Göppingen as well as the neighbouring districts of Heidenheim and Alb-Donau-Kreis. It has been awarded four stars by the German Cyclists’ Federation and runs through the most beautiful valleys of the Swabian Alb. The Alb Extrem cycling marathon offers a different kind of cycling experience: it starts every year in Ottenbach and is considered one of the largest amateur cycling events in Baden-Württemberg. If you’d like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates in advance. The 35-kilometre Obstroute offers a family-friendly way to explore the orchard landscape.

The Albtrauf, the Fils and protected landscapes

Orchard meadows shape an ancient cultural landscape along the Albtrauf in the district of Göppingen. You’ll also find this orchard landscape reflected in the name of the Obstroute; the pears used to make the district’s award-winning sparkling wines also come from the surrounding orchard meadows. The Natur-Genuss-Zentrum in Bad Ditzenbach-Gosbach informs visitors about regional products and specialities.

From Hohenstaufen, you can enjoy panoramic views across the landscape of the district of Göppingen. The mountain is the best-known of the Three Kaiser Mountains and is considered a landmark of the Staufer region. Between Wiesensteig and Geislingen, the Fils has carved spectacular rock formations and deep gorges into the Swabian Alb. These landscapes give the region a character distinct from the orchard meadows along the Albtrauf.

There are 20 designated nature reserves in the district of Göppingen, covering a total area of 2,887 hectares. The “Eybtal mit Teilen des Längen- und Rohrachtales” nature reserve extends across the city of Geislingen and the municipality of Böhmenkirch. At 1,331 hectares, it is the largest nature reserve in the Stuttgart administrative district. This comparison of areas highlights its exceptional size within the network of protected areas.

Castles, a church and regional history

Wäscherschloss in Wäschenbeuren dates back to the early 13th century. Near Bad Ditzenbach, the Hiltenburg tells the story of another historic site: a permanent exhibition in the keep of the Vorderes Schloss provides information about the history of Hiltenburg and insights into the everyday lives of its residents. The castle grounds are open year-round; check the exhibition’s seasonal opening hours separately. The preserved ruins offer views over the Upper Fils Valley.

The Ave Maria pilgrimage church near Deggingen is another of the district’s special cultural sites. It is regarded as a place of peace and relaxation. Schloss Filseck is considered a cultural and culinary attraction in the district of Göppingen. It stands on a prominent hill on the southern slope of the Fils Valley, in the district of Uhingen. For more information about regional nature and culinary experiences, the Natur-Genuss-Zentrum in Bad Ditzenbach-Gosbach provides details about local products and specialities.

Getting here and choosing a location

If access by public transport is an important factor in choosing where to stay, Faurndau offers a useful point of reference: it has a railway station and public local transport, with bus and train connections, particularly to central Göppingen and the greater Stuttgart area. Check timetables and connections for your travel date. This lets you coordinate your travel plans with the different focuses of your trip—from hiking trails and cycling tours to cultural sites in the district.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wangen, Geislingen an der Steige, Aichelberg, Albershausen, Bad Boll, Uhingen, Bad Ditzenbach, Bad Überkingen, Donzdorf, Mühlhausen im Täle, Schlat, Süßen, Wäschenbeuren, Wiesensteig, Salach, Ebersbach an der Fils, Göppingen, Hattenhofen, Gruibingen, Eislingen/Fils, Dürnau, Rechberghausen, Böhmenkirch, Adelberg, Heiningen, Hohenstadt, Börtlingen, Ottenbach

Go to the main travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.