Riederich: Orchards, Local History and Church Art

Riederich between countryside and local history

Riederich lies between the foothills of the Swabian Alb, surrounded by orchards. At the same time, the old, traffic-calmed town centre offers a glimpse into the history of its buildings and settlement. There are several interests to consider when planning your visit: a protected house dating from the 16th century, church art, and hiking and cycling.

A house dating from the 16th century

The residential building at Entenbachstraße 17 is located in the old, traffic-calmed town centre. It dates from the 16th century, is one of Riederich’s oldest buildings and is protected as a cultural monument for scientific reasons under § 2 DSchG. The house is significant to the town’s history and settlement history. Its clearly preserved timber frame is visible on the outside in the projecting upper storeys and long, projecting brackets. These visible structural features offer a tangible starting point if you are interested in the town’s architectural history.

Church art and its history

St. John’s Church offers another glimpse into Riederich’s religious art. It was built in 1966/67 and is dedicated to Saint John Bosco. The church is home to a modern Stations of the Cross with 16 stations, created by Irmingard Nagengast between 2006 and 2010. Its more recent history includes renovation and redesign from July 2023 to November 2024, followed by a ceremonial reopening on 24 November 2024.

The Church of the Resurrection is also a worthwhile stop on a tour of Riederich and its surrounding district. Riederich thus brings together a range of religious and historical points of interest: the art in St. John’s Church and another stop within the town.

Festival weekend and cuisine

A festival is held regularly in Riederich on the first weekend in July. It alternates between the ecumenical parish festival and the municipal community’s civic festival. If you are planning your trip for that weekend, it is worth checking which type of festival is taking place. Dining in Riederich includes Swabian, Mediterranean and international cuisine. This adds a culinary dimension to your travel plans alongside local history and church art.

Hiking, cycling and getting here

Riederich is known as a place for hiking and cycling. Together with its orchards and location between the foothills of the Swabian Alb, this offers a different focus from a stay devoted primarily to local history. When planning your visit, you can weigh cultural discoveries against outdoor activities. For road access, Riederich is connected to the regional road network by federal highway 312 between Stuttgart and Berkheim.

Other highlights in the wider Reutlingen destination

Other places in the wider Reutlingen destination have their own distinctive appeal. Lichtenstein Castle was built between 1840 and 1842 on the foundations of an older knight’s castle. From the castle, the Hochgehträumt circular hiking trail runs along impressive viewpoint cliffs directly to Nebelhöhle Cave. The Hochgehträumt circular hiking trail leads directly from Lichtenstein Castle to Nebelhöhle Cave; Riederich is known as a place for hiking and cycling.

At the Swabian Alb Biosphere Centre in Münsingen, interactive exhibits and audio and video features offer insights into the biosphere reserve’s nature, landscape and people. The Old Castle offers a different perspective: it houses the Castle Town Museum, which presents the history and culture of the Münsingen Alb. This gives you the option to explore different aspects of the wider Reutlingen destination: a named hiking trail, the biosphere reserve and regional history.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Grafenberg, Pliezhausen, Engstingen, Sankt Johann, Münsingen, Römerstein, Sonnenbühl, Lichtenstein.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Reutlingen.