From Beuron Monastery to Gnadenweiler

Below the monastery, we cross the Danube on the shingle-covered wooden bridge from 1803. Information panels inside explain the history and historical customs tariffs. To the left we follow the botanical - unfortunately asphalted - educational path towards Knopfmacherfelsen. One should not miss the signpost mounted high in the bushes pointing to the inconspicuous path on the right up to the soldiers' cemetery. On a rock ledge above the Danube stands a small temple visible from afar. It was built in 1914 in the Beuron art style, in memory of the soldiers and inhabitants of Beuron who died since the Coalition War against France. In 1814, an Austrian military hospital was set up in the monastery, where 37 soldiers died. From here we enjoy the view of the Beuron monastery and then cross the road behind the soldiers' cemetery. The path through the forest leads to the Kohlplatte junction. Its name refers to times when charcoal piles were still operated on the Großer Heuberg. On the opposite side of the junction, the path continues to the Pfannenstiel ruins. They lie exactly on the former border between Württemberg and Baden. Only wall remains are preserved of the former castle. Its history is largely unknown.

In serpentine descents, we go down into Bäratal and follow the edge of the forest always along the course of the stream to the north until we encounter the adventure trail marked with the green bear. It leads high through the forest to the district road Bärenthal – Beuron, heavily used especially by bikers. In the curve, there is a small rest area on the opposite side.

In the forest, we follow the "Bear" to the left and after about 100 m reach the 36 m long Lengenfels cave inhabited by bats, about 50 m north of which is the impressive Lengenfels through cave (20 m long). It was probably part of the outer bailey of the Lengenfels castle from the 12th/13th century. We climb steeply up behind the rock gate on the left from the doline and find only sparse remains.

We continue through the forest until we reach the plateau. There we follow the forest edge to the left to the Scheidheilefelsen and enjoy the view of Bärenthal as the Fathers did in earlier times.

At the fork "Above Rock Gate" we descend the hollow way to the left and look at the first rock gate. Even more impressive are the actual rock gate and the Nählerinnenfels. The stony path ascends steeply through the gorge-like rock valley called "Am Täle". It was formerly the only connection from Bärenthal to Gnadenweiler and is lined with Christian small monuments brought here by Adam Biselly from Gnadenweiler to express his grief over the death of his father Johannes, who fell in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

At the fork "Am Sauwegle" a narrow path guides us steeply to the left up to the plateau of Gnadenweiler. Here stands the chapel "Maria Mother of Europe", built in 2007, which we should visit. For the numerous visitors, the Café Kapellenblick was specially opened, where we can stop afterwards.

In the middle of "Gnadenweiler" we turn right towards Irndorf and follow the Beuron Way of St. James and the Bärentaler Steige to the "Cross at the Red Path", further on the Hohenzollern Path to the Schönbühl Chapel. From here, it goes down on the premium trail "Eichfelsen Panorama" to the wooden bridge over the Danube and back to the monastery parking lot in front of the Archabbey St. Martin. A visit to the monastery church is always worthwhile. Opposite the "monastery gate" we can stop at the reopened Hotel Pelikan or the adjacent Café Härtl.