Scheer on the Danube

The Danube flows through Scheer. The town also features historic buildings and routes with different focuses: from Gothic church architecture to cycling routes and hikes with published information on distance, duration and accessibility. These details can help you choose the right activities for your stay.

Churches and architectural history

The parish church of St. Nicholas rises above Scheer. It was built in the 13th century as a three-aisled Gothic basilica and stands out for its magnificent interior. The term “three-aisled” describes how the church interior is divided into three aisles. Its name also points to a distinctive aspect of the church: it is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra.

The Loreto Chapel dates from a different period: it was built in 1628 by Truchsess Wilhelm Heinrich, Count of Waldburg. Bartelstein Castle, meanwhile, stands on a rock above the left bank of the Danube in Scheer. A look at the local buildings thus reveals different historical connections and prominent settings, without treating the church, chapel and castle as a single architectural ensemble.

The Danube and the cycle path

The German second stage of the Danube Cycle Path runs through Scheer on its route from Sigmaringen to Ulm. Another route description starts in Sigmaringendorf: from there, the path leads through the forest along the Danube to an allotment garden area in Scheer. The stage information places the town on the route between Sigmaringen and Ulm; the second description gives the route as far as a specific destination in Scheer.

For planning purposes, it is helpful to distinguish between these details: the first refers to the stage, while the second describes the route from Sigmaringendorf through the forest along the river. The Danube itself flows through the town; Bartelstein Castle stands above its left bank. Both the course of the river and the cycle path are therefore central to Scheer, but each has its own geographical context.

Hikes with different route information

The northern route starts at the Hofgarten in the town centre of Scheer. It is listed as approximately 6.5 kilometres long, with a duration of about one hour and 45 minutes. You can use the distance and approximate walking time together as a guide when planning your schedule.

The “Eduard Mörike & Josephine” circular trail combines the route with literature: it features a selection of 28 poems written during Eduard Mörike’s stay in Scheer. The route marked in red is about 1.2 kilometres long, followed by the blue route at about five kilometres and 170 metres of elevation gain. The circular trail is not accessible with a pushchair or rollator because of steps and some unpaved paths.

The circular trail starts and ends at the i-Punkt Johannislaube, Donaustraße 18, by the Danube bridge in Scheer. You can leave bicycles there and charge their batteries if needed. The route details differ considerably: for the northern route, the focus is on the approximate total distance and duration; for the Mörike circular trail, it is on the marked sections, elevation gain and literary connection.

Bräuteln on Shrove Monday

The traditional Bräuteln ceremony in Scheer begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. on Shrove Monday. The bride and groom wear masks only on this day; they are portrayed by two newlyweds who are carried through Scheer. The calendar date of Shrove Monday varies from year to year according to the carnival calendar. If you would like to plan your stay around the Bräuteln ceremony, check the date for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Wald, Beuron, Bingen, Hettingen, Neufra, Sauldorf, Illmensee, Thiergarten

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