Orchard Route

Start: PAUSA-Quartier, Löwensteinplatz 1, Mössingen

Stage 1, km 0 - 11: Mössingen - Gomaringen

From the Mössingen Pausa-Quartier, the seat of the Orchard Info Center, the route first leads through the town of Mössingen to the north, past the outdoor swimming pool, into the first orchards below the Firstwald forest. Above Nehren lies the Schwanholz recreation area, a wonderful place to grill and rest. Following the railway tracks, the tour continues through the Steinlach valley until, before Gomaringen, the route makes a small loop over the Landesbühl, a wonderful orchard landscape. Through Gomaringen, the route leads to the local castle, which also houses the well-known Gustav Schwab Museum.

Stage 2, km 12 - 30: Gomaringen – Immenhausen

Leaving the town to the northwest, the route continues to Mähringen, passing the old station there. Just before Mähringen, you'll find the Eduard-Lucas pathway, a model orchard with a pomological focus. Over Jettenburg and Wankheim, the route goes across fields and meadows, past individual orchard trees and groups of trees. Before Immenhausen, the new interactive station "Who am I?" awaits cyclists.

Stage 3, km 31 - 50: Immenhausen-Mössingen

In Immenhausen begins the most pleasant part of the route: from here, it goes gently downhill through the Ehrenbach valley to Bläsibad, a district south of Tübingen-Derendingen. On the other side of the Steinlach river follows the ascent: following the connecting road to Kreßbach, the route reaches the small district, now part of Tübingen-Weilheim and known especially for the neo-baroque castle and the extensive golf course. The route leads through the golf course on flat terrain towards Eckhof, a small farmstead that also belongs to Tübingen. Above Dußlingen, there are stunning views of the local orchards as well as the edge of the Swabian Alb on the opposite side of the wide valley.

Passing the oil mill in Dußlingen, the route follows the Steinlach upstream to Ofterdingen. There, a geological highlight awaits at the roadside: in the riverbed of the Steinlach, many fossilized ammonites can be found, which lived there many millions of years ago. At normal water levels, the riverbed can be reached dryfooted via several steps, and the "Ofterdingen snail pavement" lies exposed. From there, the route leads back to the town centre of neighbouring Mössingen to the Pausa-Quartier.