Discover Allmendingen: Castle, Forest Swimming Pool and Tours

A well-preserved castle in the center, a forest swimming pool with sunny sunbathing lawns, and several tours of varying lengths: Allmendingen combines historical insights with options for active and more relaxing days. When planning your trip, it is worth looking at the specific differences—for example, between a hike with a shortcut, a longer circuit, or a tour that can also be done by bike.

Castle History in the Center

The well-preserved castle in the center of Allmendingen bears witness to an era when, in the 15th century, the imperial knights of Freyberg settled there with the rights of village and judicial lordship. The castle’s location and its history are therefore closely connected: anyone interested in the development of lordship and village life will find a tangible point of reference here in the heart of Allmendingen. The castle offers a different focus from the leisure activities and hiking tours, so one day of your visit can be devoted to history, while another can be spent mainly outdoors.

Forest Swimming Pool and Tours for Different Day Plans

The Allmendingen forest swimming pool has large, sunny sunbathing lawns and shaded spots to relax beneath mature trees. Both sun and shade are features of the facility. Alongside the hiking and cycling tours, this offers another way to spend your time; the choice depends on whether you are interested in exercise, a break in the greenery, or a historical focus.

For hiking, there are two 11-kilometer routes to choose from, each with a different shortcut. “Across the Lichse into the Wide Valley” takes 2 to 2.5 hours and can be shortened to 8 kilometers. “Across Hausener Berg into Siegental” takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours; the shortcut here is 7 kilometers. With similar main route lengths, the estimated times and shorter options are useful distinctions when planning your hiking day.

“Via Altheim to Lake Schmiechener See” is also 11 kilometers long and is intended for hikers and cyclists; an 8-kilometer shortcut is indicated. Another option is the 17-kilometer “Cycling and Hiking across the Hochsträß” tour. Estimated times are 2.5 hours on foot and 1.5 hours by bike. The tours therefore differ not only in length, but also in whether they are designed for walking, cycling, or both. The times are estimates; check current route conditions before setting out.

The Alb-Donau-Kreis as a Distinct Regional Setting

Beyond Allmendingen, the wider travel destination of Alb-Donau-Kreis offers other distinct themes. The Hohle Fels cave near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the place where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute” were found. Both finds are around 42,500 years old. In Blaustein, the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein is part of the transnational and serial UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps”; it is a Neolithic settlement in the Blau Valley.

Monastic history also shapes this regional perspective: Obermarchtal Abbey stands directly above the Danube and took on its present form between 1686 and 1795. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085; its buildings are now mainly Gothic and date from 1466 to 1510. These places are part of the Alb-Donau-Kreis and broaden the cultural scope of the trip without replacing Allmendingen’s own attractions.

For hiking, the Alb-Donau-Kreis offers 20 “Ice Age Trails” ranging from 6 to 14 kilometers, suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Paths” are 1 to 6 kilometers long; the Contemplation Trail is designed for multi-day tours. The regional cycling routes also vary considerably in length: the “Ice Age Valleys” tour is 75 kilometers, the “Berg Bier Tour” 115 kilometers, and the “Albtäler” cycle route 186 kilometers; the latter has a four-star rating. By comparison, Allmendingen’s shorter tours can be planned using their own distances and estimated times.

Discover more destinations: Kirchen, Neenstetten, Erbach, Lonsee, Obermarchtal, Ehingen, Börslingen, Dietenheim.

View the overview of the wider travel destination: Alb-Donau-Kreis.