Blaubeuren – Schelklingen – Schmiechtal – Laichinger Alb | approx. 53,5 km (incl. Westerheim approx. 65 km)

This round trip includes caves, springs and the Swabian Alb biosphere region. You will start in the town of Blaubeuren that is very popular for its half-timbered houses. There is also the Blautopf carstic spring, many caves and the world’s oldest works of art. You can visit the Prehistoric Blaubeuren Museum to have a closer look at tiny exhibits dating back to the Ice Age. You will learn more about Stone Age caves and the life of Ice Age artists.
You will then cross the Achtal, a primevial Danube valley, to go to Schelklingen. On the left side of the valley, you will find the “Hohle Fels”. This is the place where the oldest artwork in the world, the 40,000-year-old Venus, was found. But there is much more to explore in the little Schelklingen town that is situated in the Achtal valley: castle ruins, the local museum and the wonderful Urspring monastery with its carstic spring. The monastery is situated a bit outside of the town and is a great place to go for a walk.
We will follow the path to the village of Schmiechen, where we turn right to cross the scenic Schmiechtal valley to go to Huetten. This area is part of the Swabian Alb biosphere region. In Huetten, you will turn right into the steep road leading to Justingen. Shortly afterwards, you will arrive at the Alb plateau. After leaving Justingen, you will pass Ingstetten to go to Heroldtstatt and visit the Laiching Alb. If you come here in summer, you should see the show caves. There are three of them: the Sontheim cave close to Heroldstatt, the Schertelshöhle cave close to Westerheim and the Laichingen Tiefenhöhle cave, which is 55 meters deep.
The walkways in the caves are well constructed but you will need sturdy shoes and a jacket or sweater. You will be inspired by the mysterious depths. They are the highlights of your Alb tour. In very close proximity to the Tiefenhoehle, you will find the Laichingen ropes course, where you can have fun and action between spring and autumn. Children also love the pony farm and fairy tale park in Machtolsheim.
You will return to Blaubeuren in the evening with unforgettable memories. Then you can stroll through the old city of Blaubeuren to enjoy the end of a delighful day full of fun and excitement.
Sontheimer Höhle bei Heroldstatt
Schmiechtal
Urspring bei Schelklingen
Kletterwald, Laichingen
Blautopf, Blaubeuren
Attractions and places of interest in Blaubeuren
Blautopf carstic Spring, monastery with a Gothic high altar and a bathing house for monks, historic hammer mill, old city centre with half-timbered houses, Prehistoric Museum, Blautopfbähnle train for round trips, pool, Rusenschloss castle ruins, prehistoric caves in the Ach- und Blautal valley
Attractions and places of interest in Schelklingen
Old city centre with half-timbered houses, local museum, Hohenschelklingen castle ruins, Urspring monastery, Achtopf carstic spring and Urspringquelle spring, Hohle Fels im Achtal
Attractions and places of interest in the Schmiechtal valley
Museum zur Albwasserversorgung im alten Pumpwerk in Teuringshofen, historisches Wasserrad in Talsteußlingen, Infozentrum Biosphärengebiet in Hütten, Hohle Fels cave and Baerentalhoehle Cave close to Hütten
Attractions and places of interest at the Laichinger Alb
Sontheim Cave close to Heroldstatt, Schertelshoehle Cave close to Westerheim, the deep cave of Laichingen with a Cave Museum, the ropes course in Laichingen, the pony farm and the fairy tale park in Machtolsheim