Holzkirch: History, St. Barbara and traces of prehistoric times

Holzkirch particularly appeals to travelers who want to discover history through tangible architectural features and traces in the landscape. St. Barbara combines several architectural periods; remains of a prehistoric rampart can be seen in the Kletthalde. The area is also connected to the Lone Valley: the municipal area borders the valley to the south, while the Truttel Valley leads into it. Local history, church architecture and traces in the landscape thus offer different starting points for exploring Holzkirch.

Local history in two dates

Holzkirch was first mentioned in a document in 1362. In 1385, the town came into the possession of the Free Imperial City of Ulm. The two dates mark different milestones: the first documentary mention and the later change of ownership. Together, they provide a concise timeline for the town’s history and make the changes of the 14th century tangible through specific dates.

Several building phases at St. Barbara

St. Barbara is a clear example of different architectural styles in one church. The massive west tower has loopholes. Its lower four stories are Romanesque, while the upper story dates from 1783. The nave has a wooden ceiling dating to around 1486; the nave and the two-bay, polygonal choir are Late Gothic. The tower, nave and choir each bring their own architectural features and historical associations into view.

To understand the church, it is worth distinguishing between its features: the Romanesque character applies to the lower four stories of the tower, while the upper story has its own date. The Late Gothic description applies to the nave and choir; the wooden ceiling is dated to around 1486. Taken together, these details present the church as a layered structure, rather than reducing it to a single architectural style or period.

Rampart remains and the surrounding landscape

Remains of a prehistoric rampart can be seen in the Kletthalde, in the northwest of the Holzkirch municipal area. The semicircular stone wall runs along the slope above the Truttel Valley, which leads into the Lone Valley. Separately, the municipal area borders the Lone Valley to the south. This gives two distinct ways to describe the local landscape: the course of the Truttel Valley and the southern municipal boundary. The rampart remains add a much earlier period to the themes of medieval history and architectural history.

More cultural highlights in the Alb-Donau district

The wider destination of the Alb-Donau district offers a broader range of cultural and historical interests. The Hohle Fels cave near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the site where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute” were found; both are about 42,500 years old. In Blaustein lies the Stone Age village of Ehrenstein, a Neolithic settlement in the Blau Valley that is part of the transnational and serial UNESCO World Heritage property “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.” These themes focus on different periods from the documentary history of Holzkirch and the building phases of St. Barbara.

Monastic complexes also add to the cultural offerings of the Alb-Donau district. Blaubeuren Monastery was founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1085; its present-day buildings date mainly from the Gothic period and from 1466 to 1510. The former Premonstratensian abbey of Obermarchtal is also located in the Alb-Donau district. Its monastic complex stands directly above the Danube and took on its present form between 1686 and 1795. The different foundation and construction dates make it worth distinguishing between medieval church buildings and monastic complexes shaped in later periods when planning a trip.

Hiking and cycling as other highlights

The Alb-Donau district offers hiking routes with a range of distances. The 20 “Ice Age Trails” circular routes are between 6 and 14 kilometers long and are suitable for day hikes. There are also family-friendly “Ice Age Tracks,” ranging from 1 to 6 kilometers. The Contemplation Trail is designed for multi-day hikes. These options differ in both their stated lengths and the time they take, from shorter walks and day hikes to a multi-day trek.

Cycling also offers several themed routes with specific distances: the “Ice Age Valleys” tour is 75 kilometers long, the “Berg Bier Tour” is 115 kilometers, and the “Albtäler” cycle route is 186 kilometers. The latter has a four-star rating. The distances make it easier to compare the scale of your planned ride; together with the hiking options, they show how varied a stay in the Alb-Donau district can be.

You can decide whether to focus on St. Barbara or also include cultural and outdoor activities in the Alb-Donau district. This thematic overview can help you decide what kind of stay you are looking for. Then choose accommodation to suit your travel plans and the destinations you want to include.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Berghülen, Neenstetten, Heroldstatt, Amstetten, Öpfingen, Schelklingen, Ehingen and Ballendorf.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Alb-Donau district.