Pure diversity
Intact nature, a varied cultural landscape and the people make the Ostalbkreis worth living in.
The Ostalbkreis is pure diversity. The multifaceted landscape enables numerous leisure activities. In addition, there are numerous cultural and cultural-historical institutions that invite you to visit and make excursions. A district for explorers and active people – at any age.
Castles, Palaces & Monasteries
With 56 museums, 14 sites with archaeological open-air facilities, as well as numerous churches and monasteries, some built by the powerful noble family of the Staufers, are identity-forming for the Ostalbkreis and reveal exciting stories from times long past.
The Staufers have left numerous traces in the Ostalbkreis. The oldest Staufer city, Schwäbisch Gmünd, regularly invites visitors to the European Staufer Days, where moments from the Staufer saga are performed, transforming the city each time into an exhilarating festival of dance, music and spectacle. Away from the festivities, Lorch Monastery is also an inviting place to visit. Founded around 1100 as a Hohenstaufen domestic monastery, it is also the final resting place of Queen Irene of Byzantium. In addition to the well-preserved buildings and walls, the large Staufer painting by Lorch painter Hans Kloss, measuring an impressive 30 by 4.40 meters, and the Staufer falconry located in the monastery with its birds of prey flight shows, which take place during the summer months, are special attractions.
Baldern Castle near Bopfingen is a baroque gem with guided tours that invite visitors to see the magnificent rooms of the castle and the treasures of the baroque complex, which was built in the 18th century on the remains of a Staufer castle.
Also dating from the time of the Hohenstaufen dynasty is Katzenburg Castle, a fairytale castle on the edge of the Ostalb with roots dating back to the 12th century. The Middle Ages can be experienced up close here.
Museums
In the Alamannenmuseum in Ellwangen visitors get an insight into the life of the Alamanni in the third and fifth century A.D. by means of fascinating finds. Those interested in culture will be thrilled by the abbey church in Neresheim, which is considered one of the most important buildings of the late baroque and offers the world’s largest ceiling fresco by Martin Knoller also international music greats an impressive stage. Neresheim is also the starting point and destination of the Schättere, as the Härtsfeldbahn, which ceased operation in 1972 and now runs as a museum railroad from Neresheim to Katzenstein station on Lake Härtsfeld, is called.
Before industrialization reached its zenith in Europe, Aalen-Wasseralfingen had already made a name for itself in ore mining. In the Tiefer Stollen visitor mine, visitors get all the information they need about ore mining and its further processing in an impressive setting inside the mountain. It is also possible to take a cure from the good air in special rest areas. The descent into the Deep Adit is no less exciting. The mine train takes you in and down to the station located in the mountain, from where you can marvel at evidence of old miners‘ art such as hand-hewn tunnels, a rock dome or a unique staircase shaft.
At the explorhino hands-on museum in Aalen, young and old alike have the opportunity to discover exciting facts from the world of natural sciences at over 120 exciting stations. The Science Center is directly connected to the school laboratory of Aalen University. Natural science becomes an exciting experience here.
For those who prefer classical art, we recommend the Museum im Prediger in Schwäbisch Gmünd, which was founded as early as 1876. It is one of the oldest and most traditional museums in all of Baden-Württemberg. The wide-ranging exhibits include arts and crafts, art history and city history in equal measure, and showcase magnificent gold and silver treasures.
Another unique feature in Schwäbisch Gmünd is the world’s only shadow theater museum. In the „workshop area“ of the museum, there is the opportunity to explore the effect of light and shadow at interactive stations. Fittingly, the annual Shadow Theater Festival takes place in October.
History you can touch
The Limes, the border between the Roman Empire and the „barbarian peoples“, stretches for 60 kilometers through the Ostalbkreis district. The Limes Museum in Aalen provides an exciting insight into the Roman settlement period. In addition to numerous finds in the exhibition rooms, the museum shows remains and replicas of the probably largest equestrian fort north of the Alps in the outdoor area. With this impressive outdoor installation of the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes, the Limes Museum is one of the most important Roman museums in all of Germany and is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Traces of the Romans can be found not only in Aalen. The Limes Park in Rainau-Buch shows over a length of 11.5 kilometers various remains, such as those of a Roman bath, a fort, a restored watchtower at the border fortification. The sights can be discovered on a circular hiking trail, on the route of which is also the Limestor near Dalkingen, a unique structure on the Limes between the Rhine and the Danube and once a fortified arch of honor with a view in the direction of the Roman Empire. In order to protect the uncovered original Roman masonry, the complex is protected by a glass cube to which a fabric cube is attached showing the dimensions and appearance of the Limes Gate on a scale of 1:1. And also in Lorch you can still marvel at a reconstructed watchtower with a limes palisade indicating where the great border wall ran.
Visitors can gain impressive insights into the history of the earth in the two UNESCO Geoparks, both of which also include areas of the Ostalbkreis district. The UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb provides insights into the earth’s history and geoformation. With the help of designated geopoints, stations in the history of the earth can be discovered and experienced in a unique landscape setting.
How a region is still influenced today by a meteor impact 15 million years ago is shown by the UNESCO Global Geopark Ries, which extends over five counties, including the Ostalbkreis. The 150-meter-high crater rim, for example, is clearly visible from afar and encloses a region that is distinguished by a number of special features.
Pure nature
With its lush nature and landscape dotted with mountains and hills, the Ostalbkreis is also a paradise for sports and nature lovers.
The witness mountain Ipf with its stately height of 668 meters towers over the town of Bopfingen by an impressive 200 meters. The mountain was a Celtic princely seat and equipped with powerful fortifications. The Volkmarsberg in Oberkochen or the Rechberg near Schwäbisch Gmünd also offer a great view. The Aalbäumle on the Langert rises 26 meters above Aalen, guaranteeing a 360-degree view of the Ostalbkreis region. Another viewing platform is the 23-meter high Hagturm on the Hagberg in Welzheim near Gschwend. With a good view, it is even possible to see as far as Stuttgart.
All in all, the Ostalbkreis is a real eldorado for hikers. Numerous hiking trails invite you to hikes of varying lengths, for example in the Wental valley, on the three Kaiserbergen mountains, or in the remstal valley on numerous certified hiking trails. A Top Trail of Germany, the Albsteig, which runs as a hiking trail across the Swabian Alb, also crosses the Ostalb in one section. And those who want to embark on the Way of St. James can also do so in the Ostalbkreis. The pilgrimage trail passes numerous sights in the region, such as the Schloss ob Ellwangen castle and the Schönenberg pilgrimage church from Ellwangen to Königsbronn in the neighboring district of Heidenheim.
The 22 hectare nature reserve Rosenstein attracts outdoor enthusiasts with 40 caves, many hiking routes, climbing routes, a forest tavern with playground and an imposing castle ruin. The Rosenstein with numerous trails is very attractive for mountain bikers, which is also shown by large events, such as the BiketheRock at the Rosenstein or the World Cup held in Aalen.
All in all, numerous bike trails offer variety in leisure time. Whether a circular route from Aalen to Ellwangen and back or through the Jagst Valley from Rainau to Westhausen – there are suitable tours for every level of difficulty. In addition, four long-distance state bike paths also lead through the regions of the Ostalb, such as the Remstal Bike Path, the Kocher-Jagst Bike Path, the Swabian Alb Bike Path and the Württemberg Valley Bike Path.
If you want to go swimming or simply enjoy spending time by the water, 10 official bathing lakes await you in the Ostalbkreis. Among them are recreational areas like the Bucher Stausee or the Kressbachsee including gastronomy, rental boats and playgrounds, but also the 27 indoor pools and 16 outdoor pools find their audience. Wellness oases like the Limes thermal baths in Aalen or the wave pool in Ellwangen invite you to relax.
When the hilly landscape is covered with snow in winter, many winter sports enthusiasts are drawn out to one of the 18 ski lifts, such as the Hirtenteich in Essingen – Lauterburg, the Ostalblift in Aalen or the Wirtsberg in Bartholomä near Heubach. Cross-country skiing is possible on the well-developed network of cross-country ski trails when the weather is suitable.
Lively cultural life
For music and theater, the Ostalbkreis offers a diverse stage. Be it theater performances, such as those of the Stadttheater Aalen, the Spiel- und Theaterwerkstatt Ostalb or at the Theatermenschen in Ellwangen and the performances of renowned guest ensembles, musical highlights in various genres. Anyone who is a culture will find what they are looking for all year round. For example at the Aalener Jazztage in the fall, which has been taking place since 1992. The Jazzlights Oberkochen in spring or the international festival of church music in Schwäbisch Gmünd. In addition, regional, national and international stars perform on the stages and in the festival halls of the communities. These are joined by the traditional festivals: among others the Staufertage in Schwäbisch Gmünd, the Reichsstädter Tage in Aalen, the Ipfmesse in Bopfingen, and the Kalte Markt in Ellwangen.
More information about recreational opportunities in the Ostalbkreis: www.meine-ostalb.de