Bad Urach, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyExploring the Swabian Alb in summer
Michelskaeppele / Bad Urach – June 5, 2006Once upon a time there was a Chapel dedicated to St. Michael. With the reformation it was deserted and fall apart. Nowadays we don't even know where it actually was. But so that no-ones forget around 1900 they built a little refuge hut to remember.
Where to go today… we decided a nice view and a walk would be nice. So we walked through the bright green forest up to the Michelskaeppele. We had an awesome view on the castle Hohen Urach and down towards Bad Urach and the valley – so it was really worth for coming.
Biking to Bad Urach – June 12, 2006It’s a nice, sunny and hot day, we wanted to visit Dodi who is at the moment in the Sanatorium in Bad Urach after her knee replacement. So what better to do then bike all the way up the Erms valley – best of all we get rewarded with super nice ice cream… after this we had to get rid of all those calories, so we went a little bit along the river Erms stopped at an old metal dam and some bridges. And during it all enjoying the wonderful views.
Brille/glasses near Huelben – June 18, 2006The Artist wants you to stop and think about think – about the wonderful nature and with the 90 degree turn of one glass also to the creator, because both is important: to stand with both feet on the ground but to always remember that without the supernatural wisdom we wouldn’t have the earth. So on the memory stone you can read "You see the earth, the stars, the plants and animals. Do you see the people, do you sense the creator. Recognize god in Jesus Christ."
If your glasses are not big enough… then maybe you have to go here. Besides those huge cool glasses we had an amazing view on the castle Hohen Neuffen and the valley – and I think everything looks so much cooler when you look at them through the glasses. We also found the sundial – showing the real time. Good thing we came well prepared and brought our picnic for supper with us.
Florian / Kappishauesern – June 21, 2006When the weather is so nice, we can’t stay at home and so we always find a new fun place to have our picnic. So today we walked out on the Florian – enjoying the view not only on Metzingen but all the way to Stuttgart. We both love those warm nice summer evening.
Castle Hohen Neuffen – June 23, 2006The Name Neuffen comes from nobos – meaning holy, sacred – so likely the mountain had a religious function in the old days. The Castle itself was built between 1100-1120, in the 13th century it got sold to the counts of Baden Wuerttemberg. It was used for defence, as a prison. The castle went out of use in 1795 – the people of the surrounding area were happy to utilise the building material – which got stopped in 1830 when it got closed. In 1862 they opened the first little restaurant and opened it again for the public.
I think this castle we visited the most often, likely because it is large, has awesome views, it is a short walk from the parking lot and overall so close by. So on another beautiful sunny summer day we came here: enjoyed the views … like always a nice picnic… and let the old stone give us a feeling of the old times.
Roemerstein turm – July 16, 2006Built in 1912 on the highest elevation of the swabian Alb with 874 m. And named is the tower not for the Romans but a family with the name Rem.
Want to see far – Want to be up high, so we went to visit the Roemerstein turm, where we had views in a total different area of the swabian albs towards the Teck and Reussenstein ruins… also the 3 Kaiser mountains (emperor hills: Hohenstaufen, Rechberg und Stuifen). And since the day is not over we went on towards:
Castle Reussenstein – July 16, 2006Built in 1270 by the dukes of the Teck, so that they could watch the pass which goes onto the swabian alb. Within 50 years it went through 11 different owners. The last person living here left in 1550 when it started to fall in disrepair. In 1806 it became property of the State of Baden Wuertemberg. In 1846 they hunted here the last lynx in Germany, and then it got restored in 1966.
According to a legend by Wilhelm Hauffthe castle was founded by a giant who lived in a cave on the opposite site. In order to arrive at the building site, the giant only had to cross the valley with one large step. However, he did not step far enough and was left with a foot stuck in the marshy valley floor. When he pulled his foot out again, a spring rose from the footprint, which created the Lindach River. Later, the castle was finished, except for one last nail. However, none of the craftsman dared to hammer in this final nail at such a height. There was only one young craftsman from the Neidlingen valley who dared to try. The giant held the young man to the window over the abyss, until he had finished the work. The craftsman was rewarded with riches and with the hand of the master builder's daughter in marriage.
This tiny castle is easily to reach: park and cross the road and you are there… but it is kind of cute to walk up through the forest overshadowed steps, and then enjoy the view in the Lenninger Valley: even it is explored very fast, it’s a nice Sunday go to and a good spot in case Paul wants to count more towns.
2025-05-23