Hechlingen am See: Water, Trails and History

Hechlingen am See offers a range of reasons to stay: Lake Hahnenkamm, trails through the countryside, historic buildings and specialist off-road training. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you want to focus on nature, local history or an active itinerary.

At Lake Hahnenkamm

At Lake Hahnenkamm in Hechlingen am See, you can enjoy hiking and cycling trails, family-friendly sunbathing lawns and boating. Facilities also include a playground, a shaded barbecue area with seating, changing rooms, toilets and showers with hot water. The sunbathing lawns and playground are convenient spots for families; trails and boating offer more ways to spend time at the lake. The mix you choose depends on whether you would rather get active, take a break on the sunbathing lawn or go boating.

Trails to St Catherine’s Chapel and around the lake

The Hechlingen Hollow Way is a 1.2-kilometre educational trail leading to St Catherine’s Chapel. The chapel ruins date from the first half of the 15th century. From Hechlingen am See, you can reach them by following an unpaved hollow way eastwards. For a longer hike, the Hahnenkamm 20 circular trail is a 10-kilometre panoramic route around Hechlingen and Lake Hahnenkamm, with a stated duration of three hours. You can choose between an educational trail with a specific destination and a longer loop with a listed duration. Route details may change; check them before setting out.

Nature at Kapellbuck

Kapellbuck is home to the dry grassland vegetation typical of the Southern Franconian Jura. Characteristic plants include pasqueflower, spring gentian and silver thistle. Grazing by horned sheep helps preserve the protected plants and the character of the short-grass slopes. If you are interested in landscapes and plants, you can discover a distinct natural attraction here, alongside the trails and lake.

Church, castle and chapel festival

The Protestant Church of St Lucia and St Ottilia stands in the town centre; its church tower dates from 1491. The ruins of Stahelsberg Castle lie south of Hechlingen. The castle was first mentioned in 1197. The area’s traces of history can therefore be found in different places: at the church tower in the centre and among the surviving remains of the castle south of town. The annual chapel festival in early August is another occasion to plan your visit around. It is organised by the Hechlingen Horticultural and Tourism Association; check the exact date before travelling.

Off-road training in Hechlingen

The BMW Motorrad Enduro Park Hechlingen offers individual off-road training for beginners and advanced riders. The 30-hectare riding area includes a circuit with steep slopes, muddy single-track trails, forest paths with exposed roots, narrow footpaths, ruts, and small climbs and descents. This is a distinct focus alongside hiking, cycling and visits to historic sites. Booking is required to take part.

Culture in the wider destination of Heidenheim

The wider destination of Heidenheim also has its own cultural and historic attractions. The Way of St James pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela passes through Heidenheim. Numerous concerts are held at Heidenheim Minster each year, and the local history and potter’s museum is housed in a medieval tithe barn. Despite further alterations made by the Margraves of Ansbach after the Reformation, Heidenheim Monastery is one of the few Benedictine reform monasteries in Central Europe to have survived. These places and activities are part of Heidenheim and offer a distinct regional perspective alongside the experiences in Hechlingen am See.

For the wider travel overview: Heidenheim.