Discover the Ostalb District

The Ostalb District can be explored through several distinct themes: the Limes in Rainau, the history of the monastery in Lorch, traces of mining near Aalen, and routes through rocky landscapes and valleys. When planning your hotel stay, it helps to first decide which of these experiences you want to shape your visit.

The Limes and archaeological sites

The Upper German-Raetian Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, runs through the municipality of Rainau in the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen for about 6 km. The Limes Park Rainau preserves the finest sections and most significant individual monuments of the Limes in an exceptional concentration. A reconstructed watchtower offers panoramic views across the Ostalb region. The Limestor Dalkingen is a unique structure along the entire Limes route between the Rhine and the Danube.

The signposted Limes circular hiking trail is about 11 km long and takes approximately 2.5 hours on foot. It runs from the Limes wall and the Limes tower between Buch and Schwabsberg, through the Mahdholz forest along the Limes, to the southern edge of Schwabsberg. A specific route and an approximate walking time are part of the Limes experience, along with the preserved monuments.

Near Bopfingen lies the Ipf, a witness mountain of the White Jurassic and an important cultural monument with impressive fortifications. The open-air Celtic site at the Ipf includes a reconstructed burial mound and a pavilion shaped like a Celtic square building. The pavilion provides information about Celtic history and the area around the Ipf.

Monasteries, architectural history and mining

Lorch Monastery was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first Hohenstaufen, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as their burial place. The complex includes a medieval church, the cloister, farm buildings and the Marsilius Tower, which offers views of the monastery complex, the herb garden, the sensory garden and the surrounding area. The permanent exhibition explores 900 years of monastic history, including through the richly decorated Lorch choir books.

Kapfenburg Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1311. Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo styles come together there; the castle was never destroyed and was repeatedly adapted architecturally to suit the tastes of the time. The castle’s architectural history is therefore reflected not in a single period, but in several styles.

At the Tiefer Stollen visitor mine, the mine train travels past mineral deposits and small stalactites into sandstone chambers covering 2,500 m², 100 m underground. A multimedia show there introduces the history of ore mining in the Aalen area. A circular route through the mine tunnels leads to former underground mining areas with shafts, loading stations and ore extraction chambers.

Hiking and cycling

In the Wental valley, a nature trail offers insights into the unspoiled nature of this ancient river valley. A hike through the Wental towards Steinheim is particularly suitable for families. Along the trail, you can discover gnarled trees and bizarre rock formations in which, with a little imagination, you can make out fairy-tale characters and animals.

Wanderblume Tour 4, “In the Sea of Rocks,” is 17 km long. It starts at the village hall in Bartholomä and leads through the Felsenmeer rock formations and the Wental valley to the Hirschtal valley near Steinheim. The 25-km Wanderblume Tour 2, “At the Weiherwiesen,” also starts at the village hall in Bartholomä: it runs across the Weiherwiesen meadows to the Volkmarsberg, past the source of the Kocher near Oberkochen, through the Tiefental valley and via Tauchenweiler back to the starting point. Their different lengths and routes offer practical guidance when choosing a tour; check local trail conditions before setting out on the 25-km route.

A longer route is also an option for a cycling trip: the Ostalb Cycling Loop covers around 305 km and is divided into six stages and nine connecting routes, which can be combined to suit your plans. It passes through the Ostalb District and crosses district boundaries several times; its route also extends through the districts of Heidenheim and Rems-Murr and into the Bavarian district of Donau-Ries. This loop offers a different way to experience the region than a single hike with a fixed starting point.

Museums and trip planning

Museums and collections in the Ostalb District offer educational programs throughout the year, museum festivals, events around International Museum Day in May, and museum nights. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the dates and programs in advance.

When planning your accommodation, your main interests are a useful starting point: the Limes and archaeological sites, monastic history, mining, and hiking and cycling tours each give your stay a different focus.

Discover more destinations

Neuler, Aalen, Ellwangen, Kirchheim am Ries, Lauchheim, Neresheim, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Rosenberg, Unterschneidheim, Böbingen an der Rems, Westhausen, Schechingen, Waldhausen, Heubach, Bopfingen, Rainau, Gschwend, Lorch, Oberkochen, Täferrot, Mutlangen, Adelmannsfelden, Ruppertshofen, Eschach, Waldstetten, Ellenberg, Spraitbach, Jagstzell, Durlangen, Stödtlen, Obergröningen, Hüttlingen, Göggingen, Leinzell, Tannhausen, Wört, Abtsgmünd, Bartholomä, Essingen, Heuchlingen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.