Niederstotzingen: Ice Age, pilgrimage history and walking trails

Niederstotzingen brings together Ice Age archaeology at Vogelherd, pilgrimage history in Stetten and routes through the town and its districts. These destinations appeal to different interests: you can make the archaeological highlights, the history of the pilgrimage church or a walking tour the starting point for planning your trip.

The Ice Age at Vogelherd

The Vogelherd Cave near Niederstotzingen has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura” since summer 2017. It is currently not accessible (as of 25 September 2026); access may change. So check the latest access information before visiting. At the visitor centre of the Vogelherd Archaeological Park in Niederstotzingen-Stetten, you can see the original mammoth made from mammoth ivory that was found in the cave.

The Archaeological Park brings the Ice Age to life in its outdoor area with an adventurous trail of discovery. Sensory experiences, an illustration of a mammoth’s size and information about the vegetation of the time explore different aspects of life in that era. You can also learn essential survival skills from experts. The concept thus ranges from archaeological artefacts to questions about the environment of the time and survival.

Pilgrimage church in Stetten

The pilgrimage church of the Assumption of Mary in Niederstotzingen-Stetten houses a Black Madonna in its Chapel of Grace. The church’s history is also linked to pilgrimage: when the castle chapel became too small because of the growing number of pilgrims, Baron M. A. von Riedheim decided to build a new pilgrimage church with a Chapel of Grace. Christian Wiedemann was commissioned to design and construct it between 1732 and 1735. This brings both the special place of devotion and the reason for building the new church into focus.

Walking tours and routes

The town walk starts at the railway station, takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and can be shortened at any time. The circular route is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. The nature and culture trail through Niederstotzingen is 18 kilometres long and passes through all the town’s districts. White ground markings and the black 650th-anniversary logo mark the route. The panoramic ridge trail starts at Niederstotzingen town hall and climbs briefly to Galgenberg, 498 metres above sea level.

The information addresses different planning questions: for the town walk, the approximate duration and the option to shorten it are key; for the nature and culture trail, the distance and route through all the districts are highlighted. The panoramic ridge trail is described by its short ascent and destination, Galgenberg. This lets you distinguish the three routes using the landmarks and route information provided for each.

Landscape in the wider destination of Heidenheim

In the wider destination of Heidenheim, karst features, lively rivers, forests and heathland shape the landscape of the Heidenheim Brenz region. The certified Albschäferweg (Alb Shepherds’ Trail) runs for 158 km through this region, a cultural landscape of the Swabian Jura shaped by migratory shepherding. The trail is dedicated to shepherds and their flocks.

Discover more destinations: Herbrechtingen, Nattheim, Heidenheim an der Brenz, Giengen an der Brenz, Königsbronn, Steinheim am Albuch, Dischingen and Gerstetten.

Go to the wider travel overview: Heidenheim.