Pfullingen: Views, Monastery History and the Alb Escarpment

Pfullingen lies on the Alb escarpment, within the UNESCO-awarded Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve and at the entrance to the upper Echaz Valley. Views, monastery history and regional everyday culture shape the city’s many different facets. The Schönbergturm draws the eye across the landscape; mills and museums tell stories of crafts and clothing, while monastic sites add their own historical accents.

Wide-Ranging Views from the Alb Escarpment

The 28-metre-high Schönbergturm is Germany’s first observation tower built using reinforced concrete. Its observation platform, accessible all the way around, offers views across the Swabian Alb. In good weather, the view extends as far as the Black Forest or the Schurwald. This makes the tower a notable destination for anyone wishing to first take in Pfullingen from the surrounding landscape. Thanks to its location, Pfullingen is also considered an ideal starting point for hikes and excursions.

Monastery History and Literary Traces

The permanent exhibition “Poverty, Humility, Obedience” in the monastery church and former washhouse explores the Pfullingen Poor Clares and their world from 1250 to 1649. Another exceptional testament is the original, well-preserved medieval speaking grille of the former Pfullingen monastery. It is the only surviving medieval speaking grille in Europe. In addition to the monastery church, the historic Neske Library houses a literary exhibition about Günther Neske Verlag. The historical theme thus encompasses both monastery history and literary and publishing history.

Mills and Traditional Costumes

Following its renovation, the Baumann’sche Mühle is Pfullingen’s last mill that is still in operation and is a cultural monument. It houses the Mill and Traditional Costume Museum. The mill extends over four floors and has four sets of millstones as well as a mill lift—specific details that give a sense of its technical scale. The Württemberg Traditional Costume Museum focuses on a different subject, showcasing rural clothing from the 18th to the 20th century. The exhibits were originally everyday clothing belonging to private individuals and were collected, brought together, restored and displayed over several decades. The museum also serves as an information centre for the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve.

Villas, a Pavilion and the Pfullinger Hallen

The documentation centre in Villa Laiblin comprises three rooms and an adjoining loggia, offering insights into the life and work of Louis Laiblin and his family. A pavilion dating from 1911/1912 stands in Laiblin Park. It is the only pavilion still preserved today out of at least five garden houses of different designs. The Pfullinger Hallen also combine two functions in one cultural monument: they comprise an assembly hall and a gymnasium. Together, these buildings reveal further facets of Pfullingen’s architecture beyond its monastery and mill history.

A Walk Around Klostersee

Klostersee is an artificially dammed lake that can be circumnavigated. The millstone by the lake points to the mills of past centuries. You may occasionally spot trout in parts of the 2/8 and 1/8 channels if you approach the water carefully. The experience here differs distinctly from the viewpoint at Schönbergturm: at the lake, the focus is on walking around the water, while the tower offers sweeping views across the landscape.

Choosing Pfullingen as an Accommodation Destination

This lets you tailor your search to the experiences that matter to you, rather than assuming that certain activities come with a particular accommodation. If you are also considering other places for your trip, you can view Pfullingen in the context of the wider travel destination of Reutlingen.

More to Discover in the Wider Travel Destination of Reutlingen

In the wider travel destination of Reutlingen, the Minster of Our Lady takes centre stage in the old monastic and pilgrimage town of Zwiefalten. It is one of the most important examples of German Late Baroque architecture; concerts are held in the minster every year, with dates that vary. Another highlight is Lichtenstein Castle, built from 1840 to 1842 on the foundations of an older knight’s castle. From there, the Hochgehträumt circular hiking trail runs along impressive scenic cliffs directly to Nebelhöhle Cave. These examples complement Pfullingen’s attractions with further cultural and hiking destinations in the wider travel destination of Reutlingen.

Discover More Travel Destinations

Discover more travel destinations: Bad Urach, Zwiefalten, Dettingen An Der Erms, Metzingen, Römerstein, Riederich, Gomadingen, Sankt Johann.

Back to the wider travel overview: Reutlingen.