Educational trails
There are different educational trails in the Geopark where you can learn more about the fascinating landscape of the Swabian Alb. The topics range from the Jurassic Periods, a metor crater up to tufa.
There are different educational trails in the Geopark where you can learn more about the fascinating landscape of the Swabian Alb. The topics range from the Jurassic Periods, a metor crater up to tufa.
The scenery varies widely along the route (5 km) of this educational trail which leads from the keuper sandstone layers of Stubensandstein and Trossingen
Geological educational trail Schwäbisch GmündMore information about
In Balingen-Zillhausen, the open layers of Brown Jurassic rock (Dogger) are particularly impressive. This geological feature is the focus of the Geo Hiking Trail
Geo hiking trail Balingen-Zillhausen
More information about
The Neandertal path is not a classic educational trail but a sort of informative hiking path. It starts at the Geopark Infocentre "Höhle des Löwenmenschen"
Neandertal pathMore information about
The educational trail "Lebendige Lauchert" provides information on water as a habitat and the scenery and history of the Lauchert River. You can find out all sorts
Riverbank trail "Lebendige Lauchert"More information about
The mine path in Wasseralfingen is a circular walk which connects all the points above ground relating to mining history. It begins at the Tiefer Stollen mine which is open to visitors and is around 3.5 km long.
Aalen-Wasseralfingen mine pathMore information about
The primordial seas have left behind reefs and a phenomenal cliff here. In the Coral Reef Museum in Gerstetten, you can admire the fossilized corals and other sea dwellers. If you
Primordial Ocean Path GerstettenMore information about
The Wiesensteig GEO TRAIL leads you across the Sommerberg mountain to geological windows in which nature reveals a glimpse of rock millions of years old from
GEO TRAIL WiesensteigMore information about
The Gönningen tufa educational trail has a length of around 5 km and runs from Gönningen Town Hall through the idyllic Wiesaz valley to behind the Gönningen
Tufa path in Wiesaz valleyMore information about
On the banks of the Schömberg reservoir, the oil shale of the Black Jurassic epsilon layer can be clearly seen in truncated form. The educational trail was laid
Geological educational trail on oil shaleMore information about
About 15 million years ago, our region was shaken by the impact of two meteorites. They have left behind craters in Steinheim in the East Alb and in Ries. These
Geological educational trail in the meteor craterMore information about
The Gustav Strömfeld path celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012. The Swabian Alb Society, Ermsgau, would like to take this opportunity of renewing and modernising
Gustav Strömfeld pathMore information about
The circular trail has a length of 4,8km and includes four stations which give a few informations about the Earth’s history and the landscape which was formed by volcanic activity.
Vulcano Crater trail in Münsingen - ApfelstettenMore information about
The world-famous Nusplingen platy limestone and the scientific excavation of the outstandingly well preserved fossils found here are the focus of the approximately
Geo educational trail "Im Reich der Meerengel"More information about
The local history circular trail located outside the town in the forest provides interesting information at 3 stations on the topics of pisolitic iron ore excavation, sponge reefs and old settlement sites.
What is bean ore?
In the Swabian Alb, brown-red, often bean-shaped, globules can be found in the soil in some places.
They often occur in karst crevices and are surrounded by reddish or yellowish-brown so-called bean clay. As the name suggests, they consist mainly of iron ore, the mineral goethite (brown iron). These formations are the residues of an intensive weathering of the surface rocks in the age of the Upper Cretaceous/ Paleogene about 65 -60 million years ago. At that time the Alb was mainland and tropical climate prevailed.
Due to the high iron content (up to more than 40%), beanore was already mined in the time of the Celts and is the basis of iron smelting and thus of the metal processing industries in the Swabian Alb. Mining pits, so-called "Pingen", still bear witness to this in the forests today.
More information about
Travel back in time on the Primeval World Path to primordial times 160 million years ago and discover at 12 stopping points how the Alb scenery was transformed
Primeval world path BolheimMore information about
If you always wanted to know more about the soil under your feet, you can discover it for yourself on the soil nature trail "Hidden horizons – Soils on the Alb escarpment" in Beuren. The trail
Soil nature trail "Hidden horizons"More information about
The cycle path entitled "grüner pfad härtsfeld" leads you through a pristine and striking landscape of the Swabian Alb. On this tour, you can experience two Geoparks:
grüner pfad (green path) härtsfeldMore information about
The educational trail "JURASSIC SEA and MORE" offers you an insight into the geology, natural history and historical features of this landscape on
Geology educational trail EislingenMore information about
The first rock educational trail in the world was opened at the viewing rock between Dietfurt and Inzigkofen in July 2007 in the Danube Valley. It gives climbers
Rock educational trail InzigkofenMore information about
This 8-km path takes the hiker past various dolines and gives interesting information on the local geology and history, flora and fauna.
Doline trail Bad Urach-HengenMore information about