Land.Tour BorderSpaces

The beautiful old town center of Hausen is an atmospheric start to the "Grenztour". Here the transition between settlement and greenery flows seamlessly. Once in the natural space, we recommend: pause briefly and listen to the chorus of the colorful birdlife! A QR info reveals which birds like to chirp and peep here.

Later, magnificent fruit trees line the path, proudly stretching their crowns to the sky – no glance can pass by the orchard meadows! On the other hand, the delicate orchid beauties shyly flash through the grass. To discover them, you have to look closely and be out at the right time of year. A QR info along the way also quenches the thirst for knowledge about flora and fauna here.

At the start of the route in the Rotgraben, the hiker is escorted by shade-giving trees. The local birdlife likes to use these as a stage at different times – sometimes as soloists, sometimes together in a choir – to make themselves heard loudly. With the help of the QR info, you find a spot that is particularly suitable to listen to the concert. Here you also get a little lesson on bird (voice) knowledge.

Along the hike, geological boundaries are also crossed: with the color of the earth changing from yellow shell limestone to red sandstone, details of flora and fauna also change. Again, QR info helps to learn interesting facts: why the Rotgraben is designated as a biotope and when the fire salamander sets up its nursery here or why orchids feel so comfortable in the Wacholderheide Eisberg natural monument.

In the fresh forest air under the shady canopy, it is easy to find a good rhythm for the slight climb to the Kuppelzenhütte. On weekends (open Sundays only), it is a great place to stop! A few steps further, high above Münklingen, beneath the Büchelberg nature reserve, the view can freely and far sweep to the horizon.

What follows is a narrow forest path with depth in the double sense. What begins inconspicuously turns out, on closer inspection, to be extremely historic: the Landgraben! It was dug on the Württemberg side and built up into an embankment. On top, the hiking trail today leads through spruce and light beech forests past old boundary stones. At some points, the QR info tells stories from the past. A few steps off the path – beyond the border – another rewarding viewpoint opens and shows: the destination is already quite near!

Today, the old Württemberg Landgraben crouches under lush green, hides behind trees, and is only recognizable upon close inspection. The old border has largely been reclaimed by nature. In the 15th century, no walls or towers for border marking were built here in northern Württemberg, but rather, an embankment-and-moat system was painstakingly constructed in the earth. Thus, the Landgraben was created, which until the early 17th century mainly served to prevent toll evasion. As a defensive structure, it had little strategic importance. It later helped to determine hunting and forestry rights at the border. Until today – clearly marked and well visible on the Land.Tour – the dividing line between Württemberg and Baden is marked by numerous historic boundary stones. Those who can read them learn about the once eventful history along the border. With the help of QR info, the mists of the past can be lifted here.