Leibertingen: Wildenstein Castle and routes in the municipality

Wildenstein Castle and routes in the municipality

The castle’s position on a rocky promontory gives it a distinctive landscape setting: it rises high above the Danube Valley. The Leibertingen Lynx Information Point is located at the castle car park. This brings a named information point together with a medieval building whose setting draws attention to the landscape and history.

Routes in the municipality have different points of interest, too. The Way of St. James passes by the district of Altheim. Around Kreenheinstetten, a ring of ten wayside crosses offers an opportunity for a hike of about two hours. This duration is an approximate guide; it describes the hike near Kreenheinstetten, not the Way of St. James near Altheim.

If you are planning a trip for a group with varied interests, these details are easy to distinguish: near Kreenheinstetten, the focus is a hike lasting approximately two hours; near Altheim, it is the route of the Way of St. James. Both examples offer a different perspective on the municipality, without forming a single combined route.

Church history and local culture

In Kreenheinstetten, the history of St. Michael’s Parish Church dates back to a late Romanesque predecessor: the church tower’s core dates from the 13th century. The parish barn is also home to a small museum dedicated to Abraham a Sancta Clara. Together, the church and museum offer two distinct points of interest: medieval architecture on the one hand and the legacy of Abraham a Sancta Clara on the other.

These themes complement the hike around the ten wayside crosses with insights into architectural and local history. When planning for a group with varied interests, you can therefore give separate consideration to walking, church architecture and the museum, rather than choosing just one focus for an outing in Leibertingen.

Sigmaringen as the wider travel destination

The wider travel destination of Sigmaringen adds its own urban and scenic attractions. Sigmaringen is located in the Upper Danube Nature Park on the edge of the Swabian Alb; here, the Danube flows through a landscape shaped by towering rocks and forests. The five Sigmaringen premium hiking trails, the DonauFelsenLäufe, lead through the Danube Valley, the Schmeien Valley and the Lauchert Valley. The Danube Cycle Path also passes through Sigmaringen.

Sigmaringen Castle is part of the city’s history: it developed from a medieval castle into a princely residence and is considered the city’s landmark. Guided tours of the castle explore almost 1,000 years of Hohenzollern history. The castle is home to a private collection of around 3,000 weapons. Thus, the wider travel destination of Sigmaringen offers not only hiking and cycling, but also a look at its history as a princely residence and its collecting culture.

Two museums in Sigmaringen offer further insights. The Round Tower first served as a defensive tower in the old city fortifications and was converted into a local history museum in 1970. It is open Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.; check the opening hours before your visit. The Zündapp Museum of the Zoller-Hof Brewery is located in the Marstall building at Fürst-Wilhelm-Straße 5–7 and displays more than 100 exhibits from the Zündapp motorcycle brand. The museum’s location may change if it moves, so it is a good idea to check the address before your visit.

The weekly market in Sigmaringen offers a different focus, with regional products such as baked goods, meat and sausage products, fruit and vegetables, cheese, olive oil and honey. If you prefer to explore culture in the city itself, Sigmaringen offers city and themed tours, as well as monthly public city tours. It is advisable to check the dates of public tours in advance.

Weighing up the time of year and where to stay

Seasonal events broaden the options in the wider travel destination of Sigmaringen. The annual Fidelis Festival includes a service at St. Johann’s Parish Church on April 24, followed by a candlelight procession through the city centre. The Sigmaringen City Festival is held annually in the city centre on the last weekend of June; the exact program varies. In December and January, SIG on ICE takes place every year as an eco-friendly outdoor ice rink on Sigmaringen’s market square. From mid-December, visitors can skate there for four weeks; dates and program may vary from year to year.

If you are considering Sigmaringen as a place to stay, the train station is centrally located in the city centre, and several city bus routes provide additional transport within the city. Timetables and transport services may change, so it is worth checking current connections when planning.

Discover more destinations: Herdwangen-Schönach, Ostrach, Schwäblishausen, Neufra, Waldbeuren, Mengen, Gammertingen, Wald.

Back to the wider travel overview: Sigmaringen.