recommended route
Löwenpfad "Heldentour" - The king's stage of the Löwenpfade
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Photo: Patrick Zanker, Landkreis Göppingen
The newest and longest Löwenpfad hiking trail is challenging: the "Heldentour" in Lauterstein. With almost 24 kilometres and almost 800 metres in altitude, the focus here is primarily on the sporting challenge. In addition to four challenging climbs, the day tour also offers wonderful views of the Lautertal, typical Alb landscapes, cosy rest stops and, to crown the tour, the picturesque Weißenstein Castle.
Our certified quality Löwenpfad hiking trails take you through our beautiful Swabian landscapes with delightful panoramic views, fascinating nature, and mysterious places. With its sixteen loop trails with distances varying between 3 and 24 kilometres it provides routes for everyone.
The Löwenpfad “Heldentour” in Lauterstein is a hiking loop trail certified by the German Hiking Association. The 23.5-kilometre tour starts at the hikers' car park at the Pieta in Lauterstein-Nenningen and leads around the Heldenberg, which gives the tour its name, in the direction of the Reiterleskapelle. You cross wildly romantic forest sections and idyllic juniper heaths with beautiful views of the Winzinger valley. The path continues uphill to the Kalten Feld, where you can take a break in the Franz-Keller-Haus. Across forest and meadow areas, it continues on narrow paths along the Albtrauf to the Galgenberg, where fantastic views of the open Lauter valley and the Fils valley await you.
The path meanders over short, steep steps down to Degenfeld and shortly afterwards along the Schweintal back uphill again to the Alb plateau. After that you pass the Lützelalb and follow narrow paths into a valley to Weißenstein with its picturesque castle. Next you walk past the castle through impressive beech forests in a zigzag path up to the Albtrauf again and then along the edge, to the descent above the city of Nenningen before coming back to the starting point of the tour.
Hiking the “Heldentour” trail in two days:
- Pieta Nenningen in the direction of the Heldenberg - follow the Löwenpfad trail to the Gipfelkreuz on Galgenberg - back to the starting point at the Pieta across the "Blicklestour" (approx. 11 km)
- Pieta Nenningen in the direction of Weißenstein Castle - follow the Löwenpfad trail to the Gipfelkreuz on the Galgenberg - back to the starting point at the Pieta across "Blicklestour" (approx. 15.5 km)
For further information please follow the link: www.loewenpfade.de
Author’s recommendation
Visit to the world-famous Pieta in Nenningen:
World art at the foot of the Alb - The small Nenningen cemetery chapel contains a treasure that many international museums envy the city of Lauterstein for. This unique ensemble with the Pieta by the famous Bavarian court sculptor Franz Ignaz Günther was created after the famine of 1772. The chapel and pieta only unfold their full effect when they are in unity. For those seeking consolation, the Lamentation of the Virgin Mary is a help, for art connoisseurs the pictorial work, which has already been shown in London, Paris and Brussels, also represents the high point and end point of southern German Rococo.
Trip to the Weißenstein Castle with the Museum of Microphotography:
Since 1971, the castle with its wonderful views of the Albtrauf has been owned by the Kage family and is known worldwide as a stronghold of photomicrography.
It houses the family business "KAGE Mikrofotografie" and the unique museum "KAGEs Mikroversum", which is made accessible to groups of visitors after registration and to individuals by the Kage family during special guided tours. In a unique journey, visitors can enter new visual worlds and experience fantastic microcosms.
Track types
Rest stops
Landgasthof HeldenbergGaststätte Ställe
Landgasthof Linde
Gaststätte Schielein
Safety information
Sure-footedness, fitness and and being free of giddiness on some eaves passages are required for completing the tour. It is also possible to split the tour into two shorter daily stages.
Tips and hints
Respectful cooperation in the district of Göppingen.
Code of Conduct:
- Please respect path-blockings and quiet zones.
- Please do not leave any rubbish, animal excrements, … e.g.
- Please act foresightful and considerate. Adapt your behaviour to the current situation. Safety comes first.
- Please respect other hikers.
- Please be considerate of animals and nature
- Please plan your trips ahead. Plan your trips during daytime and try to avoid dawn and dusk.
- Please consider entry bans of agricultural areas during vegetation period.
- Please stay on marked paths and avoid forest borders so wildlife can get used to humans.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
The 23.5-kilometre tour starts at the hikers' car park at the Pieta in Lauterstein-Nonningen and leads around the Heldenberg, which gives the tour its name, in the direction of the Reiterleskapelle. You cross wildly romantic forest sections and idyllic juniper heaths with beautiful views of the Winzinger valley. The path continues uphill to the Kalten Feld, where you can take a break in the Franz-Keller-Haus. Across forest and meadow areas, it continues on narrow paths along the Albtrauf to the Galgenberg, where fantastic views of the open Lauter valley and the Fils valley await you.
The path meanders over short, steep steps down to Degenfeld and shortly afterwards along the Schweintal back uphill again to the Alb plateau. After that you pass the Lützelalb and follow narrow paths into a valley to Weißenstein with its picturesque castle. Next you walk past the castle through impressive beech forests in a zigzag path up to the Albtrauf again and then along the edge, to the descent above the city of Nenningen before coming back to the starting point of the tour.
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
With IRE and RB from Stuttgart or Ulm to Geislingen/Steige station. From there, bus line 7688 runs to Lauterstein-Nonningen. Drive to the bus stop "Nenningen Kirche".
With IRE and RB from Stuttgart or Ulm to Göppingen station. From there, bus line 58 goes to Lauterstein-Nenningen. Drive to the stop "Nenningen Kirche".
You can find the district timetable at: www.vvs.de/fahrplan
Getting there
From Stuttgart or Ulm via the B10 to the Suessen exit. Then continue on the B466 in the direction of Heidenheim to Lauterstein-Nonningen. The starting point of the tour is just after entering the town on the right-hand side at the car park of the Nenninger Pieta.
Navigation to the starting point with Google Maps
Parking
- Parking at the Pieta in Lauterstein-Nenningen.
Other parking options at alternative entry points are:
- Parking below Weißenstein Castle in Lauterstein-Weißenstein
- Parking at the sports hall in Degenfeld
- Hiking car park below the Landgasthof Heldenberg
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Equipment
Non-slip footwear is recommended.
Statistics
- 20 Waypoints
- 20 Waypoints
Questions and answers
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Rating
Photos from others