The Franconian town, which is over 900 years old, is one of the pearls on the Romantic Road and a state-approved health resort. It nestles on the banks of the river Tauber and is surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills. Röttingen has preserved its historic town center. It is surrounded by a medieval town wall with 7 fortified towers. Beautiful half-timbered houses and the baroque town hall characterize the image of the old town. The sundial trail is unique and features 25 original timepieces. The Frankenfestspiele Röttingen open-air theater festival has been held in the picturesque setting of Brattenstein Castle since 1984.
This hike leads along the Ries crater slope through a unique dry grassland and heathland vegetation up to the Bockberg. It combines an interesting experience of nature with impressive views of the Ries crater.
The imposing Harburg is a real highlight, especially for families with children, and offers exciting insights into the Middle Ages. The view from the walls of the city and the Wörnitztal is breathtaking.
The castle Harburg
The beautiful hiking trail has its starting point at the lower castle car park of the Reichsburg Harburg. The once Staufer castle is the top attraction of this little town. It is enthroned on a steep mountain spur above the village. Mentioned for the first time in 1150 and expanded and expanded again and again in the following centuries, it is one of the best-preserved castles in Germany. Its many buildings come from almost all stylistic epochs. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings form a unique ensemble. The view from the walls of the city and the Wörnitztal is breathtaking.
The hiking trail to the Bockberg
First it goes uphill on grassy paths towards Bockberg. The dry grass vegetation with many rare plants is remarkable. The Bockrundweg leads past the viewing platform of the Pluto station of the Rieskrater Planet Trail. This circular route shows and explains the position and distance of the planets in our solar system in a way that is easy to understand. The hike continues through the heath landscape to the summit cross on the Bockberg on the south-eastern edge of the Ries crater. A display board provides interesting facts about botany and geology. At 562 meters, the Bockberg is one of the highest peaks in northern Swabia. From a viewing platform you have a wide view of the Ries and the Wörnitztal.
The Nördlinger Ries
The Ries was formed 14.5 million years ago. At that time, an approximately 1 km large cosmic body (asteroid) raced towards the earth. It hit the Alb plateau at a speed of over 70,000 km/h and created a crater with a diameter of 25 km. The dry grassland and juniper heath areas in the Ries are traditionally grazed by sheep. Numerous animal and plant species threatened with extinction are at home in this fascinating landscape.
