Bad Boll – Spa History, Culture and Nature

Bad Boll combines a long spa history with striking buildings and protected natural areas. If you are looking for a hotel in Bad Boll, its historic sites, spa park and walking routes through the countryside offer different ways to shape your stay. The collegiate church defines the townscape; beyond the town’s history, the Teufelsloch-Kaltenwang Nature Reserve and several themed routes offer further perspectives on the surrounding area.

Church and Spa History

The Evangelical Collegiate Church of St. Cyriacus is a Romanesque building dating from the Hohenstaufen era. Its prominent position on a hill defines the townscape of Bad Boll. The church is open daily until dusk; check local visitor information before your visit.

The history of the Historic Spa House also goes back a long way: in 1595, Heinrich Schickhardt built the first bathhouse on behalf of Duke Frederick I. The spa house contains the sulfur spring from the same year. It is one of the oldest surviving records of Bad Boll’s healing tradition.

Spa Park, Pavilion and Literary Salon

The spa park, laid out in 1823, includes a historic colonnade. Concerts are held there on Sundays from May to September. If you are planning a visit on a concert Sunday, check the specific dates in advance.

The small “Tempele” viewing pavilion stands above the spa house. Built in 1824 as a belvedere, it is a popular destination for walks. Another cultural stop is Blumhardt’s Literary Salon in Villa Vopelius. There you can see portraits, autographs and books belonging to notable figures, including Eduard Mörike, Ottilie Wildermuth, Hermann Hesse and Karl Barth. The salon is open daily, and admission is free.

Gorges, Waterfall and Boller Heath

The Teufelsloch-Kaltenwang Nature Reserve covers 122 hectares and stretches from the orchards near Eckwälden to the Franzosenbrücke. Deeply cut gorges, streams and ravines define the area; it also includes the 18-hectare Teufelsloch Bannwald forest reserve. At the “Breiter Stein” waterfall bench, the water plunges around 50 metres. This protected landscape is a destination in its own right, alongside the town’s historic buildings.

Boller Heath has a shelter and a barbecue area. This natural setting is suitable for relaxing, picnicking and barbecuing; children can explore nature on the surrounding paths. In Bad Boll, you can choose between exploring the landscape and spending time at a designated rest area.

Routes with Different Themes

For mountain biking, the Löwentrail “Teufelsloch Loop” is a named option: the route runs around Bad Boll and Gruibingen and offers views across the foothills of the Swabian Jura. The Badwäldle Nature Trail in Bad Boll Forest has a different focus. Its eleven information boards present the forest as a habitat, protective forest and economic resource, as well as a place where timber is harvested.

The “Berta-Hörnle Tour” starts at the Pappelweg hiking car park in Bad Boll, follows the Sinneswandel past experience stations and continues to the Albtraufgänger quality hiking trail. The route is about 14.5 kilometres long. Together, the church, spa history, protected landscape and themed routes show the different interests you can take into account when choosing where to stay.

Discover more destinations: Eislingen/Fils, Wiesensteig, Geislingen An Der Steige, Bad Ditzenbach, Donzdorf, Rechberghausen, Göppingen, Dürnau

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