The best traffic-free bike rides around Meßstetten

former state border between Baden and Württemberg

Waldschenke - Good refreshment stop at the reservoir 🌊 - Schömberg - Zollernalbkreis

The Schlichemtalsperre (also known as Schömberger Stausee, mostly just called Stausee locally) east of Schömberg in Baden-Württemberg dams the Schlichem, a tributary of the Neckar coming from the Swabian Jura. The 90.6 ha Schömberger Stausee mit Palmbühl nature reserve surrounds the Schlichemtalsperre. The approximately 1.35 km long and initially narrow reservoir, which widens to about 175 m towards the end and has an area of 10.4 ha at 643.8 m above sea level (NHN), begins at the hamlet of Untere Säge and extends to the old town center of Schömberg. It has a catchment area of about 33.5 km², to which the Schlichem, already over 11 km long at its mouth, contributes almost 90%. The watercourses Hölzlegraben from the forest to the right of the lake and Scheubühlgraben and Räßentälebach from the left, which are up to 1.2 km long, flow into it from the sides. From the Vorsee forebay near the Untere Säge, a fish ladder leads to the reservoir. There is also the only bridge over the lake that can be walked and driven on. The Schlichem Viaduct can only be used by the railway. The Schlichemtalsperre was built between 1940 and 1944. The Portlandzementwerk Rudolf Rohrbach KG (today Holcim (Süddeutschland) GmbH) in neighboring Dotternhausen, which was the builder of the dam, initially used it for cooling water and electricity generation. An outdoor swimming pool built in 1935 was flooded. After the Second World War, the facility was taken over by the state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern in 1948. The reservoir was renovated from 1975 to 1983. The dam structure is an earth dam, and the hydropower plant within it has a capacity of 60 kW. There is a forebay called Vorsee, which was built from 1975 to 1977. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlichemtalsperre

The Schlichemtalsperre (also Schömberger Stausee, usually just called Stausee locally) east of Schömberg in Baden-Württemberg dams the Schlichem, a tributary of the Neckar coming from the Swabian Jura. The 90.6-hectare Schömberger Stausee mit Palmbühl landscape protection area surrounds the Schlichemtalsperre. The approximately 1.35 km long and initially narrow reservoir, which widens to about 175 m towards the end, with an area of 10.4 hectares at 643.8 m above sea level, begins at the hamlet of Untere Säge and extends to the old town center of Schömberg. It has a catchment area of approximately 33.5 km², to which the Schlichem, which is already over 11 km long at the inflow, contributes almost 90%. The Hölzlegraben from the forest to the right of the lake and the Scheubühlgraben and Räßentälebach from the left flow into it. From the Vorsee forebay near the Untere Säge, a fish ladder leads to the reservoir. There is also the only bridge over the lake that can be walked and driven on. The Schlichem Viaduct can only be used by the railway. The Schlichemtalsperre was built between 1940 and 1944. The Portlandzementwerk Rudolf Rohrbach KG (today Holcim (Süddeutschland) GmbH) based in neighboring Dotternhausen, which was the client for the dam, initially used it for cooling water and electricity generation. An outdoor swimming pool built in 1935 was flooded. After the Second World War, the facility was taken over by the state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern in 1948. The reservoir was renovated from 1975 to 1983. The dam is an earth dam, and the hydropower plant within it has a capacity of 60 kW. There is a forebay, the Vorsee, which was built from 1975 to 1977. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlichemtalsperre

Schömberger Reservoir

For me, the Danube Valley between Fridingen and Sigmaringen is the most beautiful section of the Danube Cycle Path – river, rocks, great scenery, and variety.

In summer, it's often used for swimming and relaxing! But it's also beautiful any time of year.

The rock formations along the Danube are simply spectacular.