Discover Balingen

Balingen offers a range of starting points for planning a stay: historic buildings, the Weighing Museum and paths along the Eyach. The attractions have different focuses—from late Gothic architecture and weighing technology to a walk that can be combined with a shopping trip.

Town Church and Zollern Castle

The Protestant town church on the market square is a late Gothic hall church. It was built from 1443 to 1541 as an addition to and extension of St. Nicholas Chapel, which is documented as early as the 14th century. The church’s construction history can therefore be traced back in time to this earlier chapel.

Zollern Castle also has its own history of construction: from 1935 to 1937, it was rebuilt based on the original design, partly using old building components. The church and castle thus offer two distinct historical themes for a stay in Balingen: the development of a church building over an extended period and the castle’s reconstruction in the 20th century.

Weighing Technology and a Rural Collection

At the Weighing Museum in Zollern Castle, around 600 exhibits illustrate almost the entire 2,000-year history of the weighing scale. A tour brings knowledge about weighing technology to life. If you would like to include this in your day’s plans, check the current visitor arrangements before your visit.

Another museum can be found in the Balingen district of Ostdorf: the Farmers’ Museum displays an extensive collection of farming equipment in the lower rooms of the town hall. Visits must be arranged in advance with the Ostdorf local administration. Be sure to make arrangements before including this visit in your plans.

A Walk Along the Eyach

The Eyach water education trail begins at Zollern Castle. A walk along the trail can be combined with a shopping trip. This gives you two different activities to plan for, without assuming a specific walking time.

In the “Little Venice” area, a chair by Rottweil artist Jürgen Knubben, born in 1955, has stood by the Eyach since 2005. The chair is another distinctive landmark by the water, adding a work of art in the urban landscape to the themes of architecture and technology.

More to Explore in the Zollernalb District

Beyond Balingen, the Zollernalb district offers its own cultural and landscape attractions. Hohenzollern Castle is the third fortress on Zollerberg. It belongs to the municipality of Bisingen and is located within the boundaries of the district of Zimmern. After its two predecessors were destroyed and fell into disrepair, the present-day castle was rebuilt from 1850 to 1867. Its cultural programme includes concerts, family days, open-air cinema and exhibitions. The castle is open to visitors daily and offers a glimpse of its historic chambers. For a specific visit, it is advisable to check opening times and event dates in advance.

Hikes also offer different perspectives on the Zollernalb. The 33-kilometre Schlichem hiking trail runs from Meßstetten-Tieringen to Epfendorf through a landscape of small waterfalls, wet meadows and a steep-sided gorge. Albguide tours share information about the region’s flora and fauna, as well as its history, prehistory, archaeology and geology; booking a tour is recommended. Other geological natural attractions include the Zillhausen Waterfall and the Sea of Rocks below the Hörnle. The Zollernalb lies in the western part of the Swabian Alb UNESCO Global Geopark, where the mountains reach their greatest heights.

During the 2026 leisure travel season, the Schieferbahn runs directly from Balingen to Dotternhausen and Schömberg, with no changes. The season runs until 18 October 2026. If you would like to use this connection in your plans, check the timetable before departure.

Discover more destinations: Endingen, Meßstetten, Jungingen, Laufen, Dotternhausen, Grosselfingen, Hechingen, Haigerloch

Go to the main travel overview: Zollernalbkreis.