The best traffic-free bike rides around Zimmern unter der Burg

History of the Parish Church of St. Martin The church, built in the early Gothic style, was constructed in 1885/86 according to the plans of architect Joseph Cades. After completing his training, Cades joined the construction workshop of Ulm Minster, where he was primarily entrusted with the design of the two choir towers. His first church building as an independent architect was the Catholic Parish Church of St. Martin in Dotternhausen. The Dotternhausen St. Martinus Church is an early Gothic pillar basilica, meaning a three-nave, longitudinally oriented church. Its elevated central nave is illuminated by a window zone in the upper part (a so-called clerestory). A triumphal arch separates the slightly elevated choir area. The central nave is separated from the side naves by arcades on pillars. The ratio of the width of the central nave to the width of the side naves is 2:1, which is typical for the construction methods of that time. In 1986, the St. Martinus parish community in Dotternhausen celebrated the 100th anniversary of the consecration of their parish church. The entire population was invited to the festive service and the subsequent community celebration. Considerations for the interior renovation became concrete after the 100-year celebration. After a year of interior renovation, the reopening of our parish church St. Martinus could be celebrated on Sunday, April 10, 1994. The innovations: In the choir, the altar, ambo, baptismal font, stele, sedilia, and the color-coordinated windows. The two side altars, in the right side aisle the crucifixion group with tabernacle, in the left the veneration of the Mother of God. In the front choir area hangs the restored painting of St. Martin of Tours, which still dates from the old baroque church, i.e., from before 1885. It also shows the Resurrection of Christ and should have an effect on the entire church from its place. The modern art on the walls in a church built in the neo-Gothic style is an example of temporal change and development in our church, which constantly needs change and renewal. This gem should be preserved. Source: http://kirche-dotternhausen.de/foerderverein/pfarrkirche.html

Waldschenke - Good refreshment stop at the reservoir 🌊 - Schömberg - Zollernalbkreis

The Schlichemtalsperre (also Schömberger Stausee, usually just called Stausee locally) east of Schömberg in Baden-Württemberg dams the Schlichem, a tributary of the Neckar coming from the Swabian Jura. The 90.6-hectare Schömberger Stausee mit Palmbühl landscape protection area surrounds the Schlichemtalsperre. The approximately 1.35 km long and initially narrow reservoir, which widens to about 175 m towards the end, with an area of 10.4 hectares at 643.8 m above sea level, begins at the hamlet of Untere Säge and extends to the old town center of Schömberg. It has a catchment area of approximately 33.5 km², to which the Schlichem, which is already over 11 km long at the inflow, contributes almost 90%. The Hölzlegraben from the forest to the right of the lake and the Scheubühlgraben and Räßentälebach from the left flow into it. From the Vorsee forebay near the Untere Säge, a fish ladder leads to the reservoir. There is also the only bridge over the lake that can be walked and driven on. The Schlichem Viaduct can only be used by the railway. The Schlichemtalsperre was built between 1940 and 1944. The Portlandzementwerk Rudolf Rohrbach KG (today Holcim (Süddeutschland) GmbH) based in neighboring Dotternhausen, which was the client for the dam, initially used it for cooling water and electricity generation. An outdoor swimming pool built in 1935 was flooded. After the Second World War, the facility was taken over by the state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern in 1948. The reservoir was renovated from 1975 to 1983. The dam is an earth dam, and the hydropower plant within it has a capacity of 60 kW. There is a forebay, the Vorsee, which was built from 1975 to 1977. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlichemtalsperre

A beautiful fishing lake and a place to rest

Beautiful wooden bridge that crosses the Neckar.

Schömberger Reservoir

The "Visitation of Mary" Chapel has now been beautifully restored. The house of the famous "Hauchemer Sacristan," the former pastor and sacristan of Hochheim, is also to be restored and, together with the chapel, will once again serve as a small pilgrimage site.

In summer, it's often used for swimming and relaxing! But it's also beautiful any time of year.