Albtäler cycle tour

The Albtäler cycle path is signposted with arrow signs indicating the distance to the next town and the further destinations. The logo of the Albtäler cycle path is inserted at the main signpost locations. Between the main signpost locations, the route is marked by small cycle path signs with arrows.

Section 1: From the Lone Valley to the Danube Valley - 29 km

Our cycle tour through the valleys of the Swabian Alb starts in Amstetten, which has been the "mountain station" and junction of the railroad between Ulm and Stuttgart for more than 150 years. From here, every Sunday and public holiday between May and October, the museum trains of the local railroad from Amstetten-Gerstetten and the Albbähnle to Oppingen.

You soon reach the source of the Lone in Urspring. Here, the water that has seeped through the karst rock on the Alb emerges again - crystal clear and in colors ranging from turquoise to deep blue. From the source, the Lone Valley cycle path accompanies us via Lonsee to Westerstetten and leads us through the valley of caves and mammoth hunters. In the beautifully restored station in Westerstetten is open for refreshments on Sundays and public holidays.

We pass the village of Breitingen with the newly restored Schönrainmühle mill and Bernstadt. It is worth making a detour there to visit the former patrician castle dating from 1549 with its local history collection. After Bernstadt, we cross one of the most romantic parts of the Lone Valley. At the "Fohlenhaus" cave formation, we can rest again at the refuge with barbecue area and fortify ourselves for the short and steep ascent ahead.

Out of the forest, Langenau lies ahead of us and we enjoy the view of the wide Danube valley. In this imposing little town with its springs and streams, we find everything a cyclist's heart desires.

Section 2: From the Danube valley to the Brenz valley - 31 km

The tour now leads through the flat Donauried, a huge wetland area with many protected nature reserves. From here, millions of people in the state of Baden-Württemberg and the greater Stuttgart area are supplied with drinking water by the state water supply company. The exhibition "Groundwater experience" in the pumping station is well worth seeing. The route soon climbs back up the Albkante to Rammingen. In the small district of Lindenau, against the backdrop of a 13th century monastery, cyclists will find a hearty place to stop for refreshments with a beer garden. We now return to the valley of caves and pass the most famous caves in the Lone Valley. The mammoth hunters of the Ice Age carved some of the oldest works of art in human history from mammoth ivory in their shelter. The lion man from the Hohlenstein massif and the Vogelherd horse and mammoth from the Vogelherd cave are among the most famous examples.

From the Vogelherd Cave (currently closed), we cycle along a little-used road through the last section of the Lone Valley and reach the rest of the Hürbe Valley. There, the varied area of the Cave Adventure World in Giengen-Hürben spreads out before us. An extensive break is called for here, as the adventure playground, cave and adventure museum leave nothing to be desired. If there's too much hustle and bustle for you, cycle briefly towards Burgberg to take a break at the nature playground near the Madonna.

From the cave center, the ride continues along the "Albtäler" cycle path into the Brenz valley to Hermaringen and Giengen. In the capital of teddy bears, you should pay a visit to the Steiff Museum should not be missed.

Section 3: From the Brenz valley to the Eselsburg valley via the Alb to the Roggen valley - 55 km

We continue through the Brenztal valley to Herbrechtingen. The cycle path leads us through the small town just before the monastery into the legendary Eselsburg Valley. Now that a densely populated section of the Brenz framed by industry is behind us, we cycle through a section that leads us into magical seclusion. An imposing rocky landscape embedded in juniper heaths accompanies us. The Stone Virgins stand out dominantly. The village of Eselsburg itself is just as idyllic. At the Bindsteinmühle mill, we leave the valley and have to pedal hard or descend briefly for the Alb ascent. At the top, a typical Alb plateau spreads out before us and we are immersed in the Caribbean of prehistoric times. Between 150 and 15 million years ago, this area was flooded by the primordial oceans. Deposits left behind numerous traces, which we will now discover on the rest of the journey. In Heldenfingen, it is worth making a short detour to the Heldenfinger Kliff, where you can take a break at a wonderful resting place. The 15-million-year-old surf cliff is unique and still shows the shell holes. In Gerstetten we meet in the reef and railroad museum we come across the remains of the 150 million year old Jurassic sea, the fossilized corals. The railroad line from Amstetten ends here. We now follow it to Gussenstadt. The numerous wind turbines give us an idea that the Alb is rougher here.

Shortly before Waldhausen, we cross the European watershed between the Danube and the Rhine and leave the former straight Roman road in the direction of Böhmenkirch. As we ride through the Zillerforst forest, we cross the foothills of the Magental valley and reach the village of Steinenkirch, first mentioned in documents in 1275. We continue past the Ravenstein ruins in the direction of Trasenberg to the Lindenhof with its ostrich farm, which is well worth seeing. Shortly before Böhmenkirch, the Albtäler branches off to Treffelhausen. The route now descends to the end of the Roggen valley. At the end of Treffelhausen, we come across the Eyb spring, which feeds the romantic little river through the Roggen valley.

The "Obere Roggenmühle" is nestled in the narrow valley and is now a popular excursion destination with a trout farm. The bubbling water from the Mordloch, a water-filled cave, fills the trout ponds and flows into the Eyb at the end of the mill.
The route continues along the Eyb and through the Eybtal nature reserve to Eybach. 20 striking White Jurassic rocks, near-natural woodland, numerous ravine forests and ravines, springs, streams, orchards and 400 animal and plant species, some of which are on the Red List of Threatened Species, are among the special features of the nature reserve. The Himmelsfelsen rock towers high above Eybach and the neoclassical-style castle of the Counts of Degenfeld still shines in the village. Leaving the natural Roggental valley, we reach Geislingen an der Steige. The most beautiful view of Geislingen and its five valleys, which are interspersed with industry, can be seen from the Helfenstein ruins.

Section 4: From the Eybtal valley through the Filstal valley - 22 km

From Geislingen, our tour leads along the restored old "Täleskätter" railroad line, through the Geißentäle with its typical juniper heaths into the next Alb valley, the Upper Filstal. The first stop is the Bad Überkingen thermal baths invites you to take a longer breather. If you don't have that much time, enjoy some relaxation in the spa park with its spring temple and water cascades. Visible from afar, the "Hausener Wand" soon presents itself, a 250 meter high towering rock face that was formed after a rockslide at the end of the last ice age. We cycle further up the Fils via Hausen and Reichenbach/Täle to Deggingen with its Capuchin monastery and Ave Maria pilgrimage church, which is famous far beyond the region. Here you can retreat for quiet prayer or take part in a guided tour of the monastery by the Capuchin monks. On the other side of the Fils, once you have made the steep ascent past the Hertler sheep farm to the Nordalb, you will be surprised by a beautiful and untouched heath landscape and a hut forest.
Just one kilometer further on, we reach the spa town of Bad Ditzenbach. A break to relax in the Vinzenz Therme can do no harm.
As we cycle through the Fils valley, we are accompanied by orchards and juniper heaths grazed by sheep and goats on the slopes of the Albtrauf.
Shortly before the source of the Fils, we reach the state-approved resort of Wiesensteig. This charming little town is characterized by its over 1150 years of history.

Section 5: From the source of the Fils to the Alb - 50 km

From Wiesensteig, we cycle further up the "Upper Fils Valley" to the source of the River Fils. The quiet, idyllic valley is ideal for a rest before continuing into the next Alb valley, the Hasental, past the Bahnhöfle and once again up onto the plateaus of the Alb.

In Westerheim, the mountain village with great offers for families and those seeking relaxation, we have reached the highest point of the tour and from there it's all downhill after the last few kilometers with moderate intermediate climbs. From Westerheim, it is worth making a detour to the nearby Schertelshöhle cave.
Continuing along the Albhöhe, we reach Laichingen on wonderful cycle paths. Here we come across the Laichingen Deep Cave - the deepest show cave in Germany, accessible down to a depth of 55 meters - with a rest stop and cave museum. Right next door, courage and a sporting challenge are guaranteed in the climbing forest
Shortly after Merklingen, we cycle through a beautiful dry valley that is so typical of the Alb.

Our next destination is Nellingen. A particularly delicious and rare Alb whisky is distilled here at the Landgasthof Krone. With a bit of luck, the owner will give you a tour of his refuge and let you take in the aroma of the golden Alb whisky with your mouth and nose.
The route continues through wide fields, along rows of old fruit trees. We now leave the Alb plateau and return to Amstetten, our original starting point.