The best running trails around Bingen

Note: The jetty is relatively narrow (stroller might be a tight fit) and (being made of wood) a bit slippery when wet.

Burg Hornstein is the ruin of a hilltop castle on a spur-like rocky ridge above the Lauchert at around 630 m above sea level near the Bingen district of Hornstein in the Sigmaringen district of Baden-Württemberg. It was first mentioned in 1244. The castle was imperial immediate property, and its first documentary mention dates back to 1244. Before that, the Lords of Hornstein, mentioned as early as the 11th century, probably resided in a castle in the Hornstein area. As the ancestral seat of the noble family of Hornstein of the same name, the castle experienced several construction phases until it was converted into a stately Baroque palace around 1700. In 1787, the Hornsteins sold their property to the Princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. In 1818, the Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen decreed that a Hohenzollern "house of correction and reformatory" should be established in the castle. After the conversion, the institution began operation on December 14, 1818. The institution's regulations also stipulated that "lunatics" were to be admitted. In 1850, the Hohenzollern principalities were incorporated into Prussia. The Prussian state continued to run the institution, and in 1859 it became a penal and correctional institution for men. The female inmates were transferred to Habsthal at the time. In 1869, the institution was closed. In 1873, the complex was sold for demolition, the buildings were demolished, and the walls were left to decay. Only the castle chapel, a Baroque gem, was preserved, where the Christian annual cycle is celebrated. From 1947 to 1962, the ruin was used as an open-air stage. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruine_Hornstein_(Bingen)

Beautiful wooden footbridge over the Lauchert 🌊

The Bittelschießer Täle is a canyon-like, densely wooded breakthrough valley in the lower reaches of the Lauchert, west of Bingen in the Sigmaringen district of Baden-Württemberg. The canyon is only about 400 meters long, 20-60 meters wide and up to 30 meters high (another 24 meters of river sediments down to the rock floor). It is a scenically attractive part of the Flächenalb and also a geologically particularly significant Quaternary geopark. From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, the canyon and the Lauchert were also economically and as a dominion significant. The narrow valley is just as popular with hikers and cyclists from far and wide as it is for walks and recreation for the residents of the surrounding towns. Until the Mindel ice age (~1 million years ago), the Lauchert used its current riverbed, but flowed into the then Upper Danube about five kilometers earlier near "Rückhau", between Hitzkofen and Heudorf. At that time, the Upper Danube followed a more northerly route from Scheer towards Riedlingen. At the end of the Mindel ice age, about 900,000 years ago, a primeval Danube broke through a small pass near "Bahnhof Hanfertal" (now part of Sigmaringen-Nord). It shortened its route to Riedlingen by using the Lauchert's riverbed, and then continued on its then more northerly route to Riedlingen. In the middle Riss ice age, about 200,000 years ago, glacial masses from the Alpine Rhine glacier advanced northwards in the Sigmaringen area in two cold phases over the then Upper Danube. The glacial fan reached its maximum advance in its second cold phase ("Vilsingen-Stand II", location still south of the present-day Danube) near "Hertenstein, Lauchert", Billafingen, Langenenslingen, and Riedlingen. The glacial sediments were so powerful that the Upper Danube and the Lauchert were dammed up. The backwater of the Upper Danube reached at least as far as Tuttlingen, and that of the Lauchert probably as far as Hausen an der Lauchert. The Lauchert valley between "Hanfertal" station and Hitzkofen, which was used by the Upper Danube before the Riss ice age and further deepened by it, and then completely blocked by glacial moraine debris during glacial advances, was again cleared of glacial debris by the Lauchert and used – with one exception: A large mass limestone rock from the lower bank limestone formation, which stood in the straight path, was not bypassed as it had been before (as, incidentally, was also the case with a primeval Danube), .... Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittelschie%C3%9Fer_T%C3%A4le

The Bittelschießer Täle is a canyon-like, densely wooded valley in the lower reaches of the Lauchert, west of Bingen in the Sigmaringen district of Baden-Württemberg. The canyon is only about 400 meters long, 20–60 m wide and up to 30 m high (another 24 m of river sediments down to the rock floor). It is a scenically attractive part of the Flächenalb and also a geologically particularly significant Quaternary geotop. From the Middle Ages until the 19th century, the canyon and the Lauchert were also economically and as manorial property significant. The narrow valley is just as popular with hikers and cyclists from near and far as it is for walks and recreation for the residents of the surrounding towns. Until the Mindel ice age (~1 Ma), the Lauchert used its current riverbed, but flowed into the then Upper Danube about five kilometers earlier at "Rückhau", between Hitzkofen and Heudorf, which at that time followed a more northerly route from Scheer towards Riedlingen. At the end of the Mindel ice age, about 900,000 years ago, an ancient Danube broke through the small pass near "Bahnhof Hanfertal" (today part of Sigmaringen-Nord). It shortened its route to Riedlingen by using the Lauchert bed, in order to then continue its then more northerly route to Riedlingen. In the middle Riß cold period, about 200,000 years ago, debris masses of the alpine Rhine glacier advanced northwards in the Sigmaringen area in two cold phases over the then Upper Danube. The glacial fan reached its maximum advance in its second cold phase ("Vilsingen-Stand II", location still south of the present-day Danube) near "Hertenstein, Lauchert", Billafingen, Langenenslingen and Riedlingen. The glacial sediments were so thick that the Upper Danube and the Lauchert were dammed up. The backwater of the Upper Danube extended at least to Tuttlingen, and that of the Lauchert probably to Hausen an der Lauchert. The Lauchert valley between "Hanfertal" station and Hitzkofen, which was used by the Upper Danube before the Riß cold period and further deepened by it, and then completely blocked by moraine debris by the glacial advances, allowed the Lauchert to free itself from the glacial debris again and use it – with one exception: a large mass limestone rock in the straight path from the lower bank limestone formation was not bypassed as before (as, incidentally, also previously by an ancient Danube), .... Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittelschie%C3%9Fer_T%C3%A4le

Bittelschießer Chapel ⛪ In 1625, St. Ulrich's Chapel is relocated to the castle ruins on the road towards Sigmaringen and built on the foundations of a round tower. From 1696 to 1708 it is rebuilt and provided with a no longer existing brother house. In 1719, the chapel is consecrated to Our Lady and has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. Baroque altar of Mary and 5 saint figures.

The bridge leads over the Lauchert and connects the section from the Täle and the cave.

The small chapel was built in 1696 (Baroque period) on the grounds of the former castle. Originally it was dedicated to St. Ulrich, later to Mary.