Reflection path Ehinger Alb
The path of reflection, the official name of paths for reflection and contemplation on the Ehinger Alb , is a 51 km long circular path. It connects and encloses six suburbs of the city of Ehingen (Danube) on the plateau of the south-east Swabian Alb . The path is a joint project of the localities Altsteusslingen , Dächingen , Erbstetten , Frankenhofen , Granheim , Mundingen and the city of Ehingen (Danube) within the Local Agenda 21 Ehingen , accompanied by the support association "Reflection Path Ehinger Alb in the Biosphere Area eV"
The paths of reflection and contemplation on the Ehinger Alb were certified as the first hiking trail within the Swabian Alb biosphere area by the Association of German Mountain and Hiking Associations as a quality trail for Wanderable Germany on September 2, 2011 . At the CMT 2018 in Stuttgart, the path received the certificate for the third time on January 13th.
The way
The path runs on the Alb plateau. If the weather permits, you can see as far as the 400 km wide chain of the Alps . The circular route can be walked in both directions. It is up to the hiker to determine his own route (s) and walking direction (s) depending on condition, weather and the time available. There are suggestions for tours from parking lot to parking lot on the website of the Reflection Trail. A hiking map is available from Tourist Info Ehingen on the market square and from the Ehinger Alb information center in Dächingen .
The trail is not just a hiking trail. With the Swabian exclamation “Bsenn de au!” (“Reflect!”) The hiker is asked to calm down and to reflect. 30 boards along the way provide information about the special features of the landscape, its history and inhabitants. A thought accompanies the hiker on the further way.
Location of the way
Map of the Ehinger Alb reflection path
Certificate 2018
Blackboard on the Große Lauter
Pictures and texts from the blackboard on the Große Lauter
The reflection path is supplemented by other themed paths and locations. Each of the six localities has added another element. On shorter circular routes, topics for reflection, from daily life, from the landscape or from nature are taken up and deepened.
"Station path" in Altsteusslingen
Under the motto “pick up the load, drop the load”, visitors to Altsteusslingen are asked to take a stone with them as a symbolic burden at the beginning of the path and to put it down again at the last station. 14 modern wooden steles along the approx. 3.3 km long path with symbols and a word provide impulses for reflection. They were designed by master wood sculptor Roland Nehm.
“Through woods and fields” in Dächingen
On the approximately 4.5 km long circular path in the Dächinger district, you pass various interventions in nature that were created by people at different times. For example, there is a stone bar , habitat for monoculture endangered animals and plants as a “footprint in the biosphere area”. At the tip of the foot it is planted with 40 different herbs and herbs typical of the Alb. In the east it is limited by a signpost to hiking destinations on the Alb , in the west there is an insect hotel next to a sinkhole .
“Our daily bread” in Erbstetten
The approximately seven-kilometer-long hiking trail on Erbstettener district with 17 signs and 16 show plantings thematizes the worries / efforts of people to secure their food, the origin of food from agriculture and the changes in nature / landscape caused by agriculture.
"View and nature" in Frankenhofen
The nearly seven kilometer long circular route leads through a nature reserve with old hat beeches . On the highest elevation in the district at 768.5 m, the Schneckenhäule near Frankenhofen , a platform offers a view of the Hungerberg nature reserve and, in suitable weather conditions, a view of the Alps. A web cam on site also shows the current weather on the Internet.
"Bird trail" in Granheim
There is a bird nature trail in Granheim . On this 2 km long path, which is suitable for prams and wheelchairs, 44 native bird species are presented in 19 display cases. The birds are handcrafted in life-size from clay and painted in a natural way. The respective bird voices can be heard by pressing a push button.
"Life-Horizon-Path" in Mundingen
Walk-in works of art in the Mundinger district open up spaces of experience that invite you to reflect on the basic existential questions of our lives.
Start of the station path in Altsteusslingen
Steinriegel
footprint in Dächingen
Show plantings in Erbstetten
"Lene" in Frankenhofen
Showcase
bird nature trail in Granheim
Narrow and wide horizons in Mundingen
References
literature
- Friends of the “Ehinger Alb Reflection Path in the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve”: Brochure “Discovering More of Life” , Ehingen 2011 and 2015
- Working group "Biking and hiking trails" in the working group Biosphere Area of the Local Agenda 21 Ehingen: Old ways rediscovered , Ehingen 2011, ISBN 978-3-00-035758-9
