Dautmergen along the Schlichem

Dautmergen is shaped by the open course of the Schlichem: The stream flows through the town center, bordered by a green corridor and old willows. The Schlichem hiking trail also runs through the town; the Dautmergen circular trail leads up to Girsberg. This gives you three specific priorities for planning your trip: river landscapes, the townscape and hiking. Which of these you prioritize may also influence your choice of accommodation.

Hiking: Circular trail and Schlichem hiking trail

The Dautmergen circular trail is considered an easy, six-kilometer hike through the town and up to Girsberg. If you would like to extend the loop, you can add approximately one kilometer along the Schlichem. Along the way, the route passes the former Holcim slate quarry and then descends to the river.

The loop offers views across 30 kilometers of the Albtrauf and of four of the ten Swabian Alb peaks that rise above 1,000 meters. The Schlichem hiking trail also runs through Dautmergen, which is considered its midpoint. The trail was established in 2016 as a LEADER project. This makes Dautmergen a base for a clearly measured loop and another hiking trail.

Town center between stream and architectural history

The town center includes a church, cemetery, village square, playground and half-timbered civic hall. The stream shapes the town in a different way: The Erlebbare Schlichem Innerorts area has seating stones, a lounger and a picnic area. This lets you give different weight to hiking and spending time in the town center when planning your day.

St. Verena is a Catholic single-nave church with a chancel tower. Its construction history dates back to 1215; it was extended in 1763. The half-timbered bell level dates from 1499. These three dates represent different periods in the building’s history, while the single-nave layout and chancel tower describe its present-day appearance.

Getting around and refreshments

The Schlichemwander shuttle bus operates seasonally from May to October and is intended for hikers and cyclists. Check the current timetable before your trip. The Landgasthaus Wiesental serves meals and has a wheelchair-accessible terrace; it also has an e-bike charging station. Check current details about services and facilities before visiting.

In the wider destination of Zollernalbkreis

In the wider destination of Zollernalbkreis, you can also explore the Schlichem hiking trail on a larger scale: The 33-kilometer route runs from Meßstetten-Tieringen to Epfendorf. Its landscape includes small waterfalls, wet meadows and a steep-sided gorge. At six kilometers, the Dautmergen circular trail is the shorter of the two hiking options described; the regional route covers a different distance and offers other landscape impressions.

Hohenzollern Castle adds its own cultural and historical dimension to Zollernalbkreis. The present castle is the third fortress on Zollerberg, belongs to the municipality of Bisingen and is located within the boundaries of the district of Zimmern. After its two predecessors had been destroyed and fallen into ruin, it was rebuilt from 1850 to 1867. Today, the castle opens to visitors daily and offers a glimpse into its historic chambers; check current opening hours before visiting. Its cultural program includes numerous concerts, family days, open-air cinema and exhibitions.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Balingen, Geislingen, Winterlingen, Tieringen, Meßstetten, Burladingen, Laufen, Grosselfingen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Zollernalbkreis.