Ellwangen (Jagst): Horse Tradition, Castle and Lakes

Ellwangen (Jagst) brings together horse tradition, castle history and a protected lake landscape. The Kalte Markt is one of southern Germany’s most traditional horse markets and Ellwangen’s oldest festival. A striking procession through the historic town centre is part of the event, featuring more than 300 horses and carriages. For culture enthusiasts, this is a memorable highlight; those who would rather focus on scenery and outdoor activities will find hiking trails, a Limes circular cycling route and the Ellwanger Schlossweiher nature reserve. When planning your stay, you can decide whether festival traditions, history or active days will take centre stage.

Horse Tradition and Castle Culture

Elegant Renaissance arcades stand out in the courtyard of Schloss ob Ellwangen. Together with Schönenberg Church, the castle is a landmark of Ellwangen visible from far away. The pilgrimage church of Schönenberg is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. A 90-minute guided tour of the town centre, “In the Footsteps of the Prince-Provosts”, takes visitors to St. Vitus Basilica, the Protestant town church and the market square with its Baroque collegiate houses.

The castle museum’s permanent and special exhibitions showcase more than 1,250 years of Ellwangen’s culture and history and that of its surroundings. Exhibits include faience and porcelain from the Schrezheim manufactory, founded in 1752 by Prince-Provost Franz Georg von Schönborn. The Alamannenmuseum offers a different historical focus: significant archaeological finds provide an overview of five centuries of Alamannic settlement, from the 3rd to the 8th century AD. Life-size displays, interactive media featuring screens and moving images, and numerous hands-on elements complement the finds.

Hikes, Lakes and Cycling Routes

The 63-hectare Ellwanger Schlossweiher nature reserve provides a habitat for many animal and plant species; it is also home to the rare glossy water lily. As well as the castle ponds, the reserve includes the surrounding traditional orchards. The “Exploring the Nature Reserve” app offers two interactive tours: an audio tour with information and sounds, and a quiz tour about the plant and animal life. Check whether the app is available before your visit.

Seven selected circular hikes lead through the Ellwangen lake district, taking in wooded valleys, panoramic hilltop views and lakes. Two routes offer a choice of different distances: Route 2 is 12 kilometres long and leads to natural beauty spots and cultural monuments in and around Ellwangen. The 8-kilometre Route 3 climbs to the heights above Ellwangen and visits Schönenberg pilgrimage church and the “Schlossweiher” natural monument. You can therefore choose between a longer route with nature and cultural highlights and a shorter one with two named stops.

The Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes also runs through the Ellwangen district for a length of 11 kilometres. The Ellwangen Limes circular cycling route starts at Ellwanger Schießwasen, covers 42 kilometres and returns to Ellwangen via the Jagst Valley, the Limes and the hilly lake district. This circular route links several types of landscape; check local route conditions before setting off.

Getting There and Choosing a Base

Ellwangen is an InterCity station on the Karlsruhe–Stuttgart–Nuremberg route and a stop on the Ulm–Frankfurt route. The town centre is just a few minutes’ walk from the main station. If travelling by car, Ellwangen is right by the A 7 and has its own motorway exit; the town centre is 10 minutes away from there. Check current train connections before your trip, and take local conditions into account when driving.

When looking for accommodation in Ellwangen, you can first decide what you would like to focus on during your stay: the town centre and culture, hiking or the longer circular cycling route. The railway station and motorway exit provide different reference points for planning your journey. Choosing your activities will help you tailor your trip to what interests you most locally.

The Limes in the Ostalb District

Another focal point of the Limes in the Ostalb district is the municipality of Rainau. There, the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes passes through the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen for around six kilometres; it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Particularly attractive sections and significant individual monuments have been preserved in Limes Park Rainau. A reconstructed watchtower offers panoramic views across the Ostalb. This regional perspective complements the Limes sites you can discover in Ellwangen.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Adelmannsfelden, Täferrot, Ruppertshofen, Heuchlingen, Wört, Ellenberg, Böbingen An Der Rems, Schechingen.

For the regional travel overview: Ostalb District.