Ellenberg: Watershed, Water Tower and Pietà

In Ellenberg, different points of reference come together: signs and stones mark the European Watershed, a stone commemorates road construction in 1925, and a Late Gothic Pietà takes centre stage in the parish church. Together, these features combine geographical orientation, local history and art.

Watershed and landmarks

The European Watershed separates the catchment areas of the Danube and the Rhine. In Ellenberg, signs and stones mark this large-scale boundary. This makes a geographical principle tangible on site: the two river basins begin on different sides of the watershed. This offers a different way of experiencing the landscape from looking at a single building or work of art.

The Ellenberg Stone was erected in 1925 by the Road and Waterworks Office as part of road construction. It is at the entrance to the village when you arrive from the direction of Wört or Dinkelsbühl. Its date and the reason it was erected place it within the local history of construction. Another landmark is the water tower: it stands at the northern edge of the village on the local road “Gässle” and is around 29 metres high to the tip of its roof. Its approximate height is part of the overall picture, as is its location on the edge of the village.

Art and dining in Ellenberg

The parish church “Our Lady of Sorrows” houses a wooden Late Gothic Pietà dating from around 1500. It is considered the church’s oldest and most significant work of art. Its wood, style and approximate date give the work a specific art-historical context and complement the local landmarks with a theme from sacred art.

The local connection extends to the cuisine: there are several restaurants serving traditional German fare at the campsites in Ellenberg. Alongside the watershed, stone, tower and church art, these restaurants are also useful points of reference for your stay.

More travel ideas in the Ostalb district

Other themes await in the wider travel region of the Ostalb district. At the Limes Park in Rainau, the finest sections and most significant individual monuments of the Limes are preserved in a unique concentration. The Upper German-Raetian Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, runs for about six kilometres through Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen in the municipality of Rainau. A reconstructed watchtower offers panoramic views across the Ostalb; the Limes Gate at Dalkingen is a unique structure along the stretch of the Limes between the Rhine and the Danube.

Trail lengths also offer a practical point of comparison when planning. The Limes Circular Hiking Trail near Rainau is about 11 kilometres long and takes approximately 2.5 hours on foot. It runs from the Limes wall and Limes tower between Buch and Schwabsberg through the Mahdholz forest, following the Limes to the southern edge of Schwabsberg. For longer hikes, options in the Ostalb district include the 17-kilometre Wanderblume Tour 4, “In the Sea of Rocks,” and the 25-kilometre Wanderblume Tour 2, “At the Weiherwiesen.” Both start at the village hall in Bartholomä; they differ in length and route.

Culture and nature provide further highlights: Lorch Abbey was founded in 1102 as a burial place; its permanent exhibition tells the story of 900 years of monastic history, including through the Lorch choir books. A hike through the Wental valley towards Steinheim is particularly suitable for families. Along the way, you can discover gnarled trees and bizarre rock formations in which, with a little imagination, you can make out fairy-tale characters and animals.

Choose accommodation based on your travel interests

When looking for accommodation in Ellenberg, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on. Would you like to choose Ellenberg for its own features—the watershed, stone, water tower and Pietà? Or would you like to include other places in the Ostalb district with Roman heritage, monastic history or hiking trails in your plans?

Discover more destinations: Ellwangen, Ruppertshofen, Essingen, Durlangen, Waldhausen, Neuler, Täferrot, Wört.

Go to the wider travel overview: Ostalb district.