Mühlheim an der Donau: Old Town, Caves and Danube Trails

Mühlheim an der Donau combines a historically distinctive upper town with Fasnet traditions, caves and trails along the Danube. The town’s special features include both permanent historic structures and time-specific events: night watchman tours, the traditional Cave Day and the Thomasmarkt market take place on fixed or seasonal dates. Check the current dates and access details if one of these events is the reason for your trip.

Upper Town, Historic Buildings and Traditions

The historic character of Mühlheim’s upper town has been preserved since the 14th century. Described walking routes lead through the upper town and the districts, introducing visitors to historic buildings and sights along the way. Night watchman tours are another way to get to know the upper town: they take place on Saturdays at 9 p.m. and, from May to October, additionally on Mondays at 9 p.m. The meeting point is at the town hall. As the seasonal schedule may change, check the details before your visit.

The church ruins of Maria Hilf stand on Welschenberg, the remains of a Baroque pilgrimage church. Another historic site is the cemetery complex with St. Gallus Church, Veitskapelle and Ölberg. This cemetery complex is considered an important historical and art-historical center for Mühlheim and the surrounding area. Frescoes dating from the 9th century were found in the former parish church of St. Gallus.

Fasnet also shapes local traditions: Mühlheim is considered a stronghold of Alemannic Fasnet, and the fools’ tree is erected on Schmotziger Donnerstag. The traditional Thomasmarkt market takes place on the third Saturday in October. If you are planning your trip around Fasnet or the market, it is advisable to check the details for the relevant year in advance.

The former Mühlheim railway station building houses a puppet theater and, in the former waiting room, the TheaterBahnhof cabaret stage. There, the Bachmann-Légrand family presents its own productions and guest performances. Check the current program separately if a visit to the theater is part of your travel plans.

Caves and Geological Features

The Mühlheim Cave is close to the old town. It formed in the Lower Mass Limestone of the Upper Jurassic. Ladders and bridges provide access to 93 meters of the cave; its features include sinter pools, large stalactite columns and numerous thin ceiling stalactites. It offers a direct glimpse of the geological formations found here.

The Mühlheim Felsenhöhle cave is part of the Buchhalde-Oberes Donautal nature reserve and has been one of the Geopoints of the Swabian Alb Geopark since 2022. It traditionally opens during the annual Cave Day in the Donaubergland. Check the date and access details for the relevant year in advance rather than assuming a specific opportunity to visit.

Cycling and Hiking Trails

The International Danube Cycle Path runs directly through Mühlheim an der Donau and can also be ridden in short stages. This is a useful point of reference if you do not plan to cycle the entire route in one long trip. The Bergsteig Trail, by contrast, is a nature-oriented circular route from Mühlheim to the Maria Hilf church ruins on Welschenberg and runs via Bergsteig near Fridingen. As local conditions may vary, check current information before setting out.

The Kraftstein Loop in the surrounding area also passes through the Ursental valley. Since 2014, the route has held the DonauWelle Premium Hiking Trail award and passes the ruins of Kraftstein and Wallenburg, as well as the remains of the Altrietheim and Bräunisburg ruins. This route offers a different focus from the circular route to the Maria Hilf ruins: here, the Ursental valley and the former medieval castle complexes along the trail take center stage.

Other Local Facilities

A playground with a slide, swings and climbing frame is located right next to the Mühlheim bike park. As facilities may change, check the details before your visit. The indoor swimming pool in Mühlheim has a 20 × 8-meter swimming pool. For current visitor rules, please contact the operator.

The Wider Tuttlingen Landscape

Tuttlingen district covers 734.4 square kilometers. Its territory includes the southwestern foothills of the Swabian Alb, parts of the Baar and the valley of the young Danube. Tuttlingen district provides the regional context; Mühlheim’s local highlights include historic buildings, caves, traditions and trails.

Discover more destinations: Balgheim, Durchhausen, Wurmlingen, Reichenbach Am Heuberg, Mahlstetten, Möhringen, Trossingen, Denkingen.

See the regional travel overview: Tuttlingen.