Discover Herbrechtingen

Herbrechtingen offers two distinct sides: marked trails through the Eselsburger Valley and places where you can discover local history. This lets you weigh up whether hiking, culture or a mix of both should shape your stay. If you are planning a trip with children, alternating between outdoor activities and historical insights can cater to different interests.

Hiking and nature in the Eselsburger Valley

Marked circular trails let you explore the Eselsburger Valley on foot. They are between three and ten kilometres long, offering a choice of distances for your plans. Check the latest trail information before setting out. The valley is considered by far the most valuable habitat for amphibians and reptiles in the Heidenheim district.

The Stone Maidens are a natural monument and the landmark of Herbrechtingen. One route passes them and the local history museum. The Castles and Legends Trail combines a hike in the Eselsburger Valley with seven information boards between Anhausen and Herbrechtingen. If you plan to visit the boards, check their locations on site.

Herbrechtingen offers free guided tours of the Eselsburger Valley. If you are interested, plan around the latest dates. Climbing is also possible: climbing is permitted on nine rock faces in the valley, though seasonal restrictions apply at some of them. Check the current rules and any temporary closures before climbing.

A four-kilometre circular route through the Eselsburger Valley is particularly suitable for wheelchair hikes. Before setting out, check the current condition of the trail and the conditions on site. This keeps its particular suitability for wheelchair hikes as your guide while you take the current conditions into account in your plans.

It is also worth considering your journey in your day’s plans: the road through the Eselsburger Valley is closed to motor vehicles on Sundays and public holidays; bicycles are exempt. Follow the current signs on site.

Local history museum, monastery and regional cuisine

The local history museum is housed in a former sawmill built in 1799. It shows what life was like around 150 years ago in Herbrechtingen and similar villages on the Ostalb. The building and exhibition offer different historical perspectives: on the one hand, the sawmill from 1799; on the other, everyday life in the region around a century and a half later.

The Kloster cultural centre is housed in the historic Herbrechtingen Monastery, whose history spans more than 1,220 years. Following restoration, the cultural centre opened in 2002. Guided monastery tours cover the history of Herbrechtingen Monastery from 774 to the present day. If you would like to join a tour, check the latest dates.

The Hirschbachkeller restaurant is located in the vaulted rooms of the provost’s residence at the Kloster cultural centre. As restaurants and other food businesses can change, check whether it is currently open before planning a visit. This lets you include a meal there in your plans without assuming it will be available on every visit.

Heidenheim and the Heidenheim Brenz Region

Looking at the wider destination of Heidenheim expands the landscape perspective: karst features, lively rivers, forests and heathland shape the landscape of the Heidenheim Brenz Region. The 52-kilometre-long Brenz runs through the region. The certified long-distance hiking trail Albschäferweg also crosses it for 158 kilometres. The Heidenheim Brenz Region is a cultural landscape in the Swabian Alb shaped by shepherding; the Albschäferweg is dedicated to shepherds and their flocks.

Discover more destinations: Niederstotzingen, Königsbronn, Heidenheim An Der Brenz, Steinheim Am Albuch, Nattheim, Gerstetten, Giengen An Der Brenz, Dischingen.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Heidenheim.