Schafhausen: Discover traces of the shepherds

Schafhausen brings together a landscape steeped in history and a hike whose name recalls sheep farming. Historic buildings and the annual summer event at the Zehntscheuer add to this picture. You can plan your stay around whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or explore local building and craft history.

Sheep farming and hiking trails

The name Schafhausen and the local landscape are historically associated with sheep farming. The partly still barren mountain slopes served as grazing land. The former course of the Würm also played a role: before it was straightened in 1971, the river was shallow and winding. This made it easier to drive flocks through the river and wash sheep. The landscape thus tells the story of a form of land use that shaped the town for a long time.

The hike “Following the Shepherd” leads through the “Steckental” nature reserve and starts at the Three Linden Trees on the outskirts of Schafhausen, in the direction of Magstadt. The Three Linden Trees are designated a natural monument. The hike’s title alludes to sheep farming; at the same time, the trail passes through a designated nature reserve. This brings together a historical connection and a specific landscape, without requiring you to assume a particular walking time or level of difficulty.

When choosing accommodation, the focus of your trip may help you decide: would you like to make the hike and landscape the centrepiece, or are you especially interested in the historic buildings and local history? Before planning, also check the exact dates of the “Open Barn Doors Day.” Although the event takes place every summer, the dates may vary from year to year.

Historic buildings and crafts

Built in 1801, the Zehntscheuer is a historic building and the focus of the annual “Open Barn Doors Day” held in summer. Visitors can view the interior during the event. Traditional crafts such as shoemaking and coopering are also demonstrated. The event therefore combines a look inside the building with craft demonstrations; the interior is accessible as part of the event.

The bakehouse on Untere Straße also tells a story of changing uses. It was built in 1805 as a private blacksmith’s workshop and converted by the municipality in 1855 into a bakehouse with living quarters. The two dates mark the change from a private workshop to a building that combined baking and living. Together with the Zehntscheuer, it offers insight into different aspects of the town’s architectural history.

St. Cyriakus is a Protestant parish church with a Gothic core. Its historic fabric complements the stories of the Zehntscheuer and the bakehouse with an example of ecclesiastical architecture. These different points of interest may help you choose a destination: the town brings together crafts, the former uses of buildings, and a connection to the landscape, without every experience depending on the same kind of visit.

In the wider destination of Weil der Stadt

Weil der Stadt has its own themed trail: in spring 2012, the Kepler Society and the town created it along a hiking route in the northern Würm valley. The Planet Trail is 10.1 kilometres long; walking time without breaks is about 2¾ hours. It can also be explored by bicycle. Information boards about the Sun and the rocky planets closest to it—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—are located within the municipal area of Weil der Stadt.

Another cultural history highlight in Weil der Stadt is the Kepler Museum, located in the birthplace of astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630). Some of his major works are on display, mostly in original editions. Modern presentation techniques, computer simulations, and video screenings explain scientific fundamentals. The museum thus combines historical works with different ways of sharing knowledge.

These attractions in the wider destination of Weil der Stadt differ from Schafhausen’s local shepherding history: here, hikes, the landscape, and historic buildings take centre stage, while Weil der Stadt also offers the Planet Trail and the story of Kepler. You can choose accommodation based on the experiences that matter most to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Hausen An Der Würm

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