Discover Owingen
Accommodation in Owingen
Owingen brings together natural landscapes, distinctive buildings and local history. The Hohenbodman Observation Tower, Aachtobel Gorge and the educational trails in Billafingen each offer a different focus. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether you would rather focus on historic architecture, a gorge landscape, or the interpretation of local nature and history.
Hohenbodman Observation Tower: a historic defensive structure
The Hohenbodman Observation Tower is 37 metres high. Its walls are about three metres thick, and the climb inside takes you up 141 steps. The tower was built in the 11th century as the keep of the castle belonging to the Lords of Bodman. Its height, thick walls and interior staircase give the building a distinctive architectural character: the tower is not only a landmark, but also a testament to its original function as part of a castle complex.
The tower is easily reached on foot from Hohenbodman. Parking and a toilet are available; check the facilities on site, as they may change. The details about its height, wall thickness and number of steps also make the climb easy to plan: it is reached by an interior staircase with 141 steps.
Aachtobel Gorge and the Jubilee Trail
The Aachtobel nature reserve lies below Owingen’s Hohenbodman district. The gorge is described as wild and romantic and idyllic; a rustic stream winds through soft Molasse sandstone. This gives Aachtobel a different focus from the historic defensive structure: here, the gorge landscape, rock and stream take centre stage.
In Aachtobel, the Jubilee Trail forms part of a long-distance hiking trail of about 110 kilometres from Kressbronn to Ăśberlingen. This distance refers to the long-distance trail between these two endpoints, not to Aachtobel itself. If you plan to include hiking in your trip, this distinction helps you tell the regional trail apart from the individual natural area.
Educational trails and history in Billafingen
The Billafingen village heritage trail leads to more than 30 interesting and historic sites. These include Billafingen Castle, the seigneurial BannmĂĽhle mill, the Akziserhaus and the Obere Schmiede forge. The examples bring together different aspects of local history and give the trail a clear historical focus.
On the Billafingen nature trail, signs explain trees, shrubs and other plants. They also provide information about various nesting boxes and their inhabitants. A public guided tour with experts takes place there every year on the first Sunday in May. Check the date for the relevant year before you travel if you would like to join the tour. The village heritage trail and nature trail therefore have different focuses: historic sites on the one hand, and plants and nesting boxes on the other.
Other places for contemplation and architectural interest
The Lourdes Grotto in Owingen serves as a place for contemplation and tranquillity and is maintained by local residents. In the municipality, the Nikolaus Chapel is also known as the “little sister of Birnau”. The parish church of St Peter and Paul is a late Gothic, single-nave hall church dating from the 15th century. Together, these examples show the municipality’s varied religious and architectural points of interest, each with its own distinct character.
Getting there and regional setting
The nearest train station is in Ăśberlingen, six kilometres from Owingen. Owingen is also accessible by RegioBus 500, which runs every half hour. Check current services and timetables before travelling, as transport details may change.
The wider Bodenseekreis travel region extends along almost the entire northern shore of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, reaching the Upper Swabian Hill Country and, in the east, the West Allgäu Hill Country. The landscape of the Bodenseekreis is shaped by Lake Constance and the neighbouring hill country, with fruit cultivation, vineyards, meadows and forests. This regional context complements the specific points of interest in Owingen: the observation tower, gorge, educational trails and historic buildings.
Discover more destinations: Sipplingen, Salem, Friedrichshafen, Tettnang, Hagnau on Lake Constance, Bermatingen, Heiligenberg, Meersburg.
Go to the main travel overview: Lake Constance.
