Wilflingen: Stauffenberg History and a Literary Walk

Wilflingen combines a historic village character shaped by the Stauffenberg family with a literary walk. Wilflingen Castle, the patronage church and the former Stauffenberg administrative building all contribute to the village’s character. The Ernst Jünger Forest Walk offers a different perspective on the surrounding area, bringing together movement, landscape and literature. Your visit can therefore focus on architectural and local history, or on a route with a literary connection.

Wilflingen Castle and the Historic Village

Wilflingen Castle is the oldest family seat of the Schenk von Stauffenberg family, formerly part of the imperial knighthood. The rooms and exterior reflect its conversion into a hunting lodge between 1710 and 1740; the furnishings also point to this period. The castle thus brings both the family’s history and its later use as a hunting lodge to the fore. Public access is limited. Check visiting arrangements before your visit.

The patronage church and the former Stauffenberg administrative building are also defining features of the village. Together with the castle, they give the historic village its distinctive character. Those interested in local history will encounter several different historic buildings in Wilflingen, rather than just a single historic attraction.

The Ernst Jünger Forest Walk

This four-kilometre literary route runs through the area around Wilflingen. It follows field paths and passes a pond and orchards; there is also a viewpoint along the way. Eight steel steles present aspects of Ernst Jünger’s life and work. The route thus combines a walk through the landscape with literary themes. Its length gives you a practical point of reference if you would like to include it as a distinct part of your day’s plans.

The Forest Walk offers a different focus from the village’s architectural history: here, the route through the surrounding area and Jünger’s life and work take centre stage. This lets you decide whether to spend more time exploring the historic village or on a literary walk.

Other Historical Highlights in the Wider Destination of Langenenslingen

The wider destination of Langenenslingen also has its own historic attractions. The Alte Burg above Warmtal is a site covering around two hectares. Terraces created by people and large walls define the terrain; archaeologists from the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments have definitively dated the site to the Celtic period. A signposted footpath leads there from the hiking car park. Driving in the forest is strictly prohibited. Follow local signs for current conditions.

The Stauffenberg forester’s lodge is a Baroque building dating from 1728. Ernst Jünger lived there from 1951 until his death in 1998. At the Jünger House, you can visit the living and working rooms, preserved in their original condition, along with the library, beetle collection and garden belonging to the house. Another room is dedicated to his brother Friedrich Georg Jünger (1898–1977). Check visiting hours before your visit.

Church art and architectural history are also among the themes in Langenenslingen. In the Church of St James in Dürrenwaldstetten, three large ceiling paintings by Januarius Zick depict the Christmas story. The present-day parish church of St Conrad is on the main street beside the castle in Langenenslingen and was built in the style of 1890. The two churches represent different forms of religious heritage: narrative ceiling paintings and a later architectural style.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Accommodation Search

Wilflingen’s main attractions are its historic village and literary walk; the Langenenslingen attractions mentioned here are separate regional highlights. Tailor your search to the focus that matters most for your trip.

View the wider travel overview: Langenenslingen.