Gunningen: Between the Ostbaar and local history

Gunningen is located in the Ostbaar between the Lombach and Elta rivers. Its location provides a clear geographical reference point, while the first documentary mention of the village dates back to 797. St. George’s Church and Hohenkarpfen nearby add two different points of interest: local history and landscape. If you’re looking for accommodation in Gunningen, you can first consider whether you’re mainly interested in the village itself or also in the wider destination of Tuttlingen.

An early documentary record

Gunningen was first mentioned in a document on March 30, 797, in a deed of gift. In it, Warin transferred his estates in Gunningen to the Abbey of St. Gall. The precise date and the specified transaction provide a concrete historical anchor for the village’s history: the early mention is connected with a gift and can be traced to a specific document. For those interested in history, this is a concise starting point for exploring the village’s long history.

Church history and landscape

Today’s St. George’s Church also offers a clearly defined historical point of interest. It was rebuilt between 1816 and 1820 in the then-modern Rundbogenstil (round-arch style) and consecrated in 1849. The construction period, architectural style and consecration mark different aspects of its history. The term Rundbogenstil draws attention to the architectural vocabulary of the period and thus adds a later chapter to the village’s documentary history.

Nearby Hohenkarpfen is a popular destination for excursions thanks to its distinctive conical shape and views across the Baar as far as the Black Forest. Alongside the historical points of interest, it offers a landscape-focused experience that takes in more than the village itself. If you’re planning a visit to Hohenkarpfen, check its current accessibility in advance.

Tuttlingen as the wider destination

The wider destination of Tuttlingen offers another distinct geographical perspective. Tuttlingen district covers 734.4 square kilometres and includes the southwestern foothills of the Swabian Jura, parts of the Baar and the valley of the Young Danube. The northern part of the district features juniper heaths and the region known as the “10 Thousanders,” with ten mountains over 1,000 metres high. White limestone cliffs rise above the Danube Valley; the Danube Gorge and the Höwenegg volcanic crater are among the district’s scenic highlights.

The Danube Sinkhole also varies within this wider area: between Immendingen, Möhringen, Tuttlingen and Fridingen, the Danube’s flow can vary from day to day; in some places, the river can dry up completely, while elsewhere it may carry only a little water. For travel planning, this is a different kind of natural feature from the enduring landscapes of the Baar and the Danube Valley: here, the scene changes with water levels.

Cultural attractions round out this range of landscapes. At the Neuhausen ob Eck Open-Air Museum, visitors can see 25 historic buildings that were dismantled at their original locations, moved there and restored to their original condition. The wider Tuttlingen destination thus offers a choice of different interests, from geological and landscape features to a museum of historic architecture.

Which of these to focus on depends on what you’d like to make the main theme of your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bärenthal, Fridingen An Der Donau, Kolbingen, Mahlstetten, Böttingen, Irndorf, Balgheim, Geisingen.

Go to the wider travel overview: Tuttlingen.