"Höhenrunde": Hiltenburg and pure Albtrauf – lion trails around Göppingen

Today, after my vacation, I'm taking my first walk back to my hometown. It's always a big change to learn to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings again. This Lion Trail is a beautiful hike. The weather is brilliant after all the rainy days, I'm completely alone, the silence... and yet, the feeling still lacks a bit of the magic of Lapland.

A hike around Bad Ditzenbach with the highlight of the Hiltenburg Castle ruins. Start at the Schonterhöhe hiking car park, passing through the eastern Oberbergfels, Eckfelsen, Oberberghof (agriculture and equestrian center), the town hall, and Hiltenburg Castle. Schonterhöhe hiking car park: The Schonterhöhe hiking car park is idyllically located on the edge of the Upper Fils Valley and is an ideal starting point for hikes into the diverse landscape of the Swabian Alb. The free parking lot offers ample parking space and boasts a quiet location and a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Eastern Oberbergfels: The Oberbergfels guarantees a beautiful view over Bad Ditzenbach and the Upper Fils Valley. The viewpoint can be reached from the parking lot at Schonterhöhe in about 15 minutes. Eckfelsen: High above the Upper Fils Valley, near the famous Oberbergfels, towers the Eckfelsen – a viewpoint that impresses not only with its fantastic views but also with its moving history. From here, a sweeping view opens up over Deggingen, the green valley, and the surrounding heights of the Swabian Alb. A comfortable bench invites you to pause, take a deep breath, and enjoy nature in all its beauty. The mountain cross, which has stood here since 1947, is a special symbol of human history. Otto Wagner, a bricklayer from Deggingen, erected it out of deep gratitude for his safe return from World War II. Decades later – in 2008 – the cross was lovingly restored by his son Otto Wagner Jr., thus preserving it for future generations. Oberberghof: Oberberghof is a well-maintained horse farm on the outskirts of Bad Ditzenbach with 25 horse stalls. 16 of these are rented to boarders. Equestrian sports serve as a hobby here. Furthermore, 75 hectares of green space are cultivated, along with 1 hectare of arable land and a small amount of forest. Hiltenburg: From the 717-meter-high Schlossberg, the view sweeps unobstructed over the Upper Fils Valley and into several side valleys with ancient routes up the Alb. Whoever controlled this exposed mountain was protected against attacks and controlled the transport routes. These advantages were recognized and appreciated even in prehistoric times. Therefore, the approximately 45-minute hike up the Schlossberg is recommended on a clear day. Once at the top, those interested in culture will also find something to enjoy, as the castle ruins house the permanent exhibition "History in the Tower": Settlement on the Schlossberg dates back to the 11th century, as archaeological finds and building surveys have revealed. A dedicated association has been dedicated to preserving and keeping the castle's long history alive, supporting the exhibition and offering regular tours in the summer. In the keep of the "Front Castle," a permanent exhibition on two levels informs visitors about the history of Hiltenburg Castle and provides insights into the everyday lives of its residents. The fate of the castle after its destruction in 1516 and the efforts to preserve the historic structure are further highlights. Exhibition opening hours: April 1 to October 31 Sundays and public holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A beautiful hike along the edge of the Swabian Alps. It starts with a steep climb on a lovely path. Then the trail continues for a long stretch directly along the escarpment, mostly on narrow paths. Finally, there's an interesting castle ruin – a great loop that's really fun, even the dogs loved it!

This morning by train to Geislingen a. d. S., then take the bus to Bad Ditzenbach to walk the “Löwenpfad” high-altitude circuit. We started at the Kurklink bus stop. Right at the beginning there is a steep climb to the Oberbergfels with a fantastic view over Bad Ditzenbach. We went along mostly great paths to other beautiful viewpoints such as the Badfelsen or Tierstein and the Hiltenburg ruins. Then return to the starting point. Conclusion: Very varied round with many fantastic viewpoints and similar paths and paths made the tour a great experience.

Very well signposted. You can safely put your mobile phone navigation aside.

I just wanted to go to the Hiltenburg again. And you really can't go wrong with a lion path. However, I changed the tour a bit so that I had the ascent to Hiltenburg with me. I've walked the individual sections before, but not on this lap.

Today something different and did a hike on the Swabian Alb. Very nice way, only to be recommended. Unfortunately I can't add any more pictures. Something doesn't work 🤷 So, I've now done the whole thing on PC. maybe the pics will stay in now.

In the leafless winter, the view from Albtrauf is particularly beautiful. The tour starts in Bad Ditzenbach. Right at the beginning you have to overcome around 240 meters in altitude. The reward follows immediately: high above the Upper Filstal, your gaze wanders far over the landscape and to the Hiltenburg ruins on the Schlossberg. The best views are from the Tierstein and Oberbergfels viewing points. I recommend the walking direction recorded in my route, especially on wet, icy or snowy paths. This makes the descent flatter and easier. If you're traveling by car, it's worth a visit to Schlat, combined with shopping for delicious non-alcoholic PriSeccos made from old Swabian fruit varieties directly in the Jörg Geiger factory or in the Häcker & Messerle self-service shop opposite.