From the Danube valley to the Bäratal

We cross the Danube on the shingle-covered wooden bridge from 1803. It was extensively renovated in 2005. Information panels inside explain the history and historical customs tariffs. To the left, we follow the botanical nature trail in the direction of Knopfmacherfelsen. After the paved path turns into a gravel one, we should not miss the inconspicuous path leading right uphill 300m further. The signpost to the soldiers' cemetery is well hidden high up in the bushes. In 1814, an Austrian military hospital was set up in the monastery, where 37 soldiers died. From the small temple, we enjoy the view of Beuron Monastery and then cross the country road behind the soldiers' cemetery. The path through the forest leads to the Kohlplatte junction. Its name refers to times when charcoal kilns were still operated on the Großer Heuberg. On the opposite side of the junction, continue towards the former Pfannenstiel castle.

In switchbacks, we descend into the Bäratal and follow the forest edge always along the course of the stream northwards until we meet the experience trail marked with the green bear. It leads high through the forest to the district road Bärenthal – Beuron, which is 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 reach the Lengenfels cave, inhabited by bats, after about 100 m. About 50 m north of it, we stand before the impressive Lengenfels passage cave. Behind the rock gate, we climb steeply to the left of the sinkhole to the sparse remains of Lengenfels castle.

We continue through the forest until we meet the plateau. At the hunting stand, we go straight ahead (towards Beuron). To the left, information panels point to the stone wall hedges, which document the arduous cultivation of fields on the rough Swabian Jura. Straight ahead, we arrive at the Scheidheilefelsen and enjoy the view of Bärenthal. The viewpoint is also called Paterfels because the fathers used to stop here on their ride from Beuron to Bärenthal to enjoy the beautiful view.

At the fork "Above the rock gate," we descend the hollow path to the left, looking at the first rock gate. Even more impressive are the actual rock gate and the Näherinnenfels rock. Through the rock valley called "Am Täle," we climb up to the fork "Am Sauwegle." On the rocky "little path," Christian small monuments accompany us, which Adam Biselly from Gnadenweiler brought here to express his grief over the death of his father Johannes, who fell in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870.

Following the (Sau) "little path" upwards, we reach the plateau of Gnadenweiler and stay on the agricultural road until the country road. Turning left, we already see the newly built chapel "Maria, Mother of Europe", which we should definitely visit.

Afterwards, a short detour to the Rabenfels viewpoint can be made near the transmission mast. Now the old path leads down through the forest. We shorten the road and pass the juniper heath in the Rabenfels nature reserve at the water container. Here, sheep and goats are again used as landscape managers to preserve the poor grasslands of the juniper heath.

Arriving in the village, we turn right before the church and then immediately left again, passing between houses, following the meadow path to the country road and over the Bära river. Here await the "Bärenthal tuff stone cascades." The lime dissolved in the water of the cascades precipitates again on the surface and turns into tuff stone. In a private quarry directly next door, this is mined. The Gnadenweiler chapel and the rectory in Bärenthal demonstrate the use of tuff as a building material in a vivid way.

The rock experience trail with the "blue bear" leads over the tuff quarry further to the oil mill spring and over the Bruckfelsen cave. The 15-meter deep typical White Jura cave was used for a long time for beer and ice storage. Large blocks of ice were harvested in winter on so-called "ice gallows."

From the town hall in Bärenthal, the local bus takes us back to Beuron.