Lonsee – Water, Juniper Heathlands and Culture

The Lonesee is a rare body of water on the Swabian Alb; juniper heathlands, woodland and traces of different eras also shape Lonsee. The town lies at the beginning of the Lone Valley. A lake, a viewpoint, an adventure trail and remarkable details from art and history offer a range of points of interest for nature and culture enthusiasts.

The Lonesee and the Swabian Alb landscape

The Lonesee has existed since 1978. A body of water of this kind is rare on the Swabian Alb; waterbirds in particular make use of the lake. A diverse range of plant and animal life has also become established there. In 2014, the Lonesee, its dam and island underwent extensive renovation to protect the water balance. Water flowing into the lake from the Lone is channelled over a waterwheel – a distinctive feature of the local waterscape.

An adventure trail by the lake offers different ways to experience water and raises awareness of this sensitive habitat. Those interested in the landscape will find nature and water closely connected here. The Salachberg offers a different view of Lonsee and the surrounding area: it is a viewpoint with wide-ranging views of the town and its surroundings.

Juniper heathlands are also part of the landscape. On the heathlands near Lonsee, pasqueflowers bloom in full flower in the April sunshine. This seasonal natural feature depends on the time of year and sunny conditions. Alongside the juniper heathlands, woodland shapes the setting at the beginning of the Lone Valley.

The source of the Lone is another distinctive landscape feature: at Urspring, it rises from a spring pool at an elevation of 562 metres above sea level. The pool is six metres deep and ten metres in diameter. The lake, its inflow and the source give water different forms in and around Lonsee.

Roman traces and art in Lonsee

The Roman Road begins at the town hall in the centre of Lonsee. Along the route, the Roman fort “Ad Lunam” can now only be recognised in the landscape by the square arrangement of the hedge strips. An information sign describes the Roman site; the fort is dated to AD 81 to 160. The combination of a visible form in the landscape and an explanatory sign also makes the site interesting to visitors who prefer to explore history through tangible traces rather than dates alone.

The Protestant choir-tower church of St Mary, built in the mid-19th century, represents another chapter in the town’s history. Oil paintings of the twelve apostles by Christoph Nikolaus Kleemann hang on its north, east and south walls. The apostles are painted on wood; each painting measures 77 × 68 centimetres. The artist, subject and execution make this decoration a precise art-historical detail.

The wooden sculpture “Stone Age Man at the Lonesee” adds a large-scale work: it weighs 17 tonnes and stands six metres tall. Its title highlights the connection between people and the landscape, while its dimensions give a clear sense of the artwork’s size.

Lonsee as a starting point for different interests

In Lonsee, nature and cultural history can be explored side by side: the Lonesee and its adventure trail draw attention to water and habitat, while the Roman Road leads to historical traces in the landscape. The church and its paintings of the apostles provide another focus. When planning, it helps to decide first whether your stay will focus mainly on these local themes or also include attractions across the wider Alb-Donau district travel region.

The Alb-Donau district offers a range of additional hiking options: the 20 “Ice Age Trails” circular routes are six to 14 kilometres long and are suitable for day hikes. The family-friendly “Ice Age Tracks” cover routes of one to six kilometres; the Reflection Trail is designed for multi-day tours. If you would like to consider these routes as well as the town, you can factor the desired length of your trip into your accommodation search.

The wider Alb-Donau district travel region is also home to important cultural and natural sites. Hohle Fels near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the site where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Vulture Bone Flute” were found; both finds are around 42,500 years old. This regional perspective complements Lonsee’s own themes with a special insight into early human history.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ballendorf, Bernstadt, Ehingen, Asselfingen, Blaustein, Heroldstatt, Amstetten, Westerheim.

For the overall travel guide: Alb-Donau district.