Börtlingen: Observation Tower, Trails and Orchard Culture

Börtlingen is situated on a ridge in the Schurwald forest. An observation tower, signposted trails and a historic work of art offer different perspectives on the town: here, you can explore an engineering structure, discover hiking and Nordic walking routes, and learn more about a work from the early 16th century.

Observation tower with a former water supply function

The Reinhold Maier Tower was originally a surge tower for the state water supply system and was converted into an observation tower. Visitors can now climb it. It is located on the K 1408 between Börtlingen’s district of Breech and Lorch-Rattenharz. A visit to the tower offers a specific way to explore the history of a structure whose function has changed over time. If you are taking different interests into account when planning your trip, this attraction offers a different focus from the local hiking trails or historic art.

Hiking trails and Nordic walking

For outdoor exercise, three Nordic walking routes are signposted in Börtlingen. The signposted hiking trails in Börtlingen total 17.4 kilometres and are intended for walkers, hikers, joggers and people with pushchairs. This is the combined length of the trails, not a single route. This helps you understand what the local area offers without assuming a particular circular route or walking time. Check route conditions before setting off, as they may change.

The Reinhold Maier Tower and the trails represent two different ways to experience Börtlingen: visiting a specific structure or using the signposted routes as a way to spend time outdoors. Which option suits your stay better depends on whether you would rather focus on a single attraction or on getting active along the trails.

A work from the Adelberg sculptors’ workshop

The Börtlingen Mount of Olives is another facet of the town’s history. It was created around 1510 and is considered the first surviving work from the Adelberg sculptors’ workshop. The scene depicts Jesus, Peter, James and John, with Judas and the guards in the background. The figures make the subject of the work tangible and bring its historical date to life. Together with the former surge tower, the Mount of Olives shows how varied the stories associated with Börtlingen are: one tells of a water supply structure and its later use, the other of a surviving sculpture from around 1510.

Orchards and local products

Börtlingen is committed to preserving its traditional orchards. The local Börtlingen Wine Apple is also part of the town’s culinary identity: it is available as a sparkling wine. If you would like to include this product in your trip plans, check current availability. Preserving the orchards and offering a wine made from the Wine Apple link landscape conservation with a specific regional product, without requiring a particular tasting or event.

Börtlingen has also met the criteria set by the Fairtrade organisation and is Germany’s 627th Fairtrade town. Local initiatives thus complement the town’s landscape and history. These varied interests can help guide your choice of accommodation: decide whether hiking trails, historical themes, or orchards and regional products are most important to your trip.

Further perspectives in the wider destination of Göppingen

The wider destination of Göppingen offers a larger selection of regional trails, distinct from the routes in Börtlingen. The district of Göppingen has twelve fully signposted tourist cycling routes. The Löwenpfade are circular hiking trails there, ranging from three to 24 kilometres in length. They can be walked in either direction and are signposted and marked both ways. At each starting point, an information board shows the route, an elevation profile and attractions along the way. This lets you consider the route length and course together before setting off.

For cycling trips, the wider destination of Göppingen also offers the 186-kilometre “Albtäler” route, which covers a different scale. It leads through the district of Göppingen and the neighbouring districts of Heidenheim and Alb-Donau-Kreis. These regional options complement the local trails and help you distinguish between a tour across the wider district and the signposted routes in Börtlingen.

Discover more destinations: Albershausen, Süßen, Rechberghausen, Dürnau, Heiningen, Schlat, Bad Ditzenbach, Gruibingen.

Go to the wider travel overview: Göppingen.