Balingen – Town Church, Weighing History and the Eyach

Balingen brings together architectural history and weighing technology with a walking route along the Eyach. The town church, the Weighing Museum in Zollern Castle and the riverside nature trail that starts there each offer a different focus for your explorations. If you are looking for accommodation in Balingen, you can decide whether to devote your stay mainly to cultural attractions in the town or include other destinations in the Zollernalbkreis as well.

Architectural history and weighing technology in Balingen

The Protestant town church, a late Gothic hall church, stands in the market square. It was built between 1443 and 1541 as an addition and extension to St Nicholas’s Chapel, which is documented as existing as early as the 14th century. An older chapel and a church built later thus stand together at this site. Zollern Castle also has a history of reconstruction: from 1935 to 1937, it was rebuilt to its original design, partly using old building components.

The Weighing Museum in Zollern Castle uses around 600 exhibits to present almost the entire 2,000-year development of the weighing scale. A tour brings knowledge of weighing technology to life. If you plan to visit the museum, check the current visitor arrangements in advance. The collection offers a tangible counterpoint to the architectural history: here, the focus is on the development of an everyday technical object.

The Eyach, a walk and art

The Eyach riverside nature trail starts at Zollern Castle. A walk along the trail can be combined with a shopping trip. The riverside route thus complements views of the church and castle with a different perspective on Balingen.

You will find another work of art by the Eyach in the “Klein Venedig” area: a chair by Rottweil artist Jürgen Knubben (*1955) has stood there since 2005. A visit to the Ostdorf district requires different arrangements. In the lower rooms of the town hall, the Farm Museum displays an extensive collection of agricultural tools; visits must be arranged in advance with the Ostdorf local administration.

In the Zollernalbkreis: a castle and cultural programme

The wider destination of the Zollernalbkreis also offers cultural attractions. The present-day Hohenzollern Castle is the third fortress on the Zollerberg. It belongs to the municipality of Bisingen and is located within the boundaries of the Zimmern district. After its two predecessors were destroyed and fell into ruin, it was rebuilt between 1850 and 1867. Today, the castle offers a cultural programme of concerts, family days, open-air cinema and exhibitions. It opens to visitors daily and offers a glimpse inside its historic rooms; check the current schedule before your visit.

Albguide tours offer guided discoveries of the Zollernalb, sharing insights into wildlife and plant life, as well as history, prehistory, archaeology and geology. Booking a tour is recommended. Another way to explore the region’s geological history is the Geological Nature Trail on Westerberg above Nusplingen, which ends at a rock-hammering site. These examples show different ways to get to know the region: with a guided tour, a nature trail or a cultural programme.

The landscape and trails as a regional highlight

The Zollernalb lies in the western part of the Swabian Alb UNESCO Global Geopark, where the mountains reach their greatest heights. In the Zollernalbkreis, the Zillhausen Waterfall and the Felsenmeer below the Hörnle are among the Zollernalb’s spectacular geological features. A longer hiking option is the 33-kilometre Schlichem Valley Trail from Meßstetten-Tieringen to Epfendorf. Its varied landscape includes small waterfalls, wet meadows and a steep-sided gorge.

In the Albvorland area of the Zollernalbkreis, families can enjoy leisurely cycling tours, for example at the Schömberg reservoir. The “Wandern wie die Andern” (Hiking Like Everyone Else) programme features a range of tours that are also suitable for people with disabilities. In winter, the Zollernalb has numerous cross-country ski trails and ski lifts for winter sports enthusiasts.

Connections and choosing accommodation

During the 2026 leisure travel season, the Schieferbahn runs from Balingen to Dotternhausen and Schömberg without requiring a change; the season runs until 18 October 2026. Check the timetable for your intended travel date. Also during the 2026 leisure travel season, the Nauf-Nab-Trauf bus connects Hechingen with the Nägelehaus in Albstadt-Onstmettingen.

If you are planning your trip around these leisure connections, compare their operating days with your travel dates.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Endingen, Meßstetten, Bisingen, Albstadt, Winterlingen, Weilen Unter Den Rinnen, Grosselfingen, Rosenfeld.

Back to the regional travel overview: Zollernalbkreis.