Lehningen: Church, Fortification Wall and Cycling Routes

Lehningen has a charming, picturesque village feel. Its architectural gem, the small Catholic branch church of St. Ottilia, stands in the centre of the village, right beside the road towards Hausen. Traces of history and a short cycling route with two very steep climbs add further highlights. Cultural and historical details thus meet a clearly stated sporting challenge.

St. Ottilia: a church with a striking tower

The imposing tower immediately catches the eye with its distinctive roof: the colourfully glazed tiles form a diamond pattern, and the walls also feature loopholes. The branch church was built around 1500 as a chancel-tower church. Its striking appearance and central location make it a prominent landmark in the village.

Following extensive restoration in 1746, craftsmen from the Allgäu adorned the interior with elaborate stucco on the ceiling and three altars. The building date and furnishings therefore reflect different periods in the church’s history: construction around 1500 was followed by artistic decoration after the restoration. For those interested in architecture, St. Ottilia offers more than just a striking tower—the furnishings, too, are clearly documented through the specific date and the craftsmen’s place of origin.

Remnants of a fortification wall and an inscribed boundary stone

Remnants of a fortification wall can still be seen in Lehningen. The wall was demolished in the early 1980s; its remaining traces keep the former fortifications visible in the village. A boundary stone near Lehningen offers a different historical highlight: on the Lehningen side, it bears an “L” for Lehningen, the inscription “HDVG 1565” and the coat of arms of the Lords of Gemmingen. The letter, inscription and coat of arms give the stone a distinctive and clearly identifiable character.

Cycling routes and different ride profiles

The short “Lehninger Runde” cycling route has two very steep climbs and is suitable for mountain bikes. Both details therefore matter when choosing: the route is short, but its climbs make it distinctly challenging. The Kapellenweg Biet offers a church-themed perspective. It runs along the ridge between the Nagold and Würm valleys and passes numerous impressive chapels and churches. In the Lehningen section, the branch church of St. Ottilia is listed.

Culture and other cycling routes in the wider destination of Tiefenbronn

In the wider destination of Tiefenbronn, St. Maria Magdalena offers another art-historical highlight. The church was donated and was first mentioned in the first half of the 12th century. Its Gothic choir dates from around 1350 and has a high ribbed vault. The stained-glass windows were made in Strasbourg in 1370 and supplemented by Emil Wachter in 1976.

St. Maria Magdalena has five late Gothic winged altarpieces. They include the high altar by Hans Schüchlin, dating from 1469, one of the most significant winged altarpieces in southwestern Germany. The large retable, with wings painted on both sides, a predella and a superstructure, is designed as an altar of the Virgin Mary and the Passion. The Magdalene Altarpiece by Lucas Moser was created in 1431/32 and is devoted to the themes of remorse, penance and repentance. The church treasury also holds an exceptional piece: a Gothic tower monstrance by Augsburg artist Jörg Seld, dating from 1500.

The cycling routes also differ in their profiles. The longer, moderately difficult Würm/Monbachtal route runs through Hagenschieß, along the Würm and Nagold rivers, and through the Monbach valley. It passes through Neuhausen and returns to Tiefenbronn, and is suitable for experienced families with cycling experience. Compared with the short, very steep “Lehninger Runde”, it offers a different route and level of difficulty; these details make it easy to compare the two tours.

For the overview of the wider destination: Tiefenbronn.