Discover Mittelstadt: Natural diversity on the Neckar slopes

Mittelstadt reveals a side of nature shaped by a variety of habitats: in the Neckarhanglagen nature area, orchards, former sheep pastures, a quarry site, hedgerows and ponds come together. There are also hillside woodland and developing reed beds. The area, covering around eight hectares, was designated in 1972; part of it is also designated as a natural monument. Rather than focusing on a single landscape type, it offers a varied setting with remarkable ecological connections.

Habitats and biodiversity

The different areas provide habitats for numerous animals. Cavity-nesting birds, woodpeckers, warblers and leaf warblers find places to nest here. Golden orioles, bats and amphibians find food and shelter in the protected area; insects and spiders also benefit from the diversity of habitats. Nature enthusiasts exploring the Neckarhanglagen will therefore discover not just a list of individual species, but a mosaic of different habitats and their inhabitants.

The NABU information centre is next to the protected area and serves as a meeting point for excursions and nature experience days. It offers a starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about Mittelstadt’s natural environment. Access arrangements may vary; please check them before your visit.

Culture in the wider destination of Reutlingen

The wider destination of Reutlingen also has its own highlights. Since 1998, the Reutlingen Natural History Museum has been housed in the listed Old Lyceum, an imposing half-timbered building dating from 1727. The Industrial Archive offers a different perspective on the city’s history, displaying machinery and products from Reutlingen’s textile industry and mechanical engineering sector. Its exhibits include a loom made by Hermann Wangner in 1849 and a steam engine made by Ulrich Kohllöffel in 1886.

Art lovers will find a collection at the Reutlingen Art Museum in the Spendhaus that focuses on artistic woodcuts and relief printing, from the 19th century to the present day. The Spendhaus itself is a six-storey half-timbered building, constructed in 1518 as a grain store for the charitable foundation administration. The Tübingen Gate adds another historical landmark: it was built in 1235 as part of the construction of Reutlingen’s medieval city wall. The wider destination thus brings together different ways to explore culture and history: collections, architectural history and a striking city gate.

Nature and excursions in Reutlingen

The wider destination of Reutlingen also offers ideas for nature lovers and hikers. The official “Aussichtsreich” tour guide features 14 hiking routes, all within the city limits of Reutlingen. At 707 metres, the Achalm is Reutlingen’s own mountain and an important city landmark. The Listhof nature reserve on the outskirts of Reutlingen can be explored on foot. Listhof also has an environmental education centre with several nature experience areas, biotopes and a bug house where visitors can explore and experiment.

Choose the right focus for your trip

Are the Neckarhanglagen and the NABU information centre, a meeting point for excursions and nature experience days, your main focus? Or would you also like to include the museums, architectural history and hiking routes in the wider destination of Reutlingen in your travel plans? These highlights can help you tailor your accommodation search to the experiences that interest you most.

View the wider travel overview: Reutlingen.