Ice Age hunters and the art of brewing – trails through the Swabian Alb

Ice Age history and beer – you can experience both in the Alb-Donau district in the Swabian Alb. In this Collection, we introduce the four Ice Age trails and a beer hike. These themed trails showcase this beautiful region and what makes the Alb so special. You explore the Lauterfelsensteig trail into the Kleine Lautertal valley, follow in the tracks of ice age hunters around Blaubeuren, visit the turquoise blue karst ‘Blautof’ spring, walk the Burgfelsenpfad path into the Große Lautertal valley and biosphere reserve and take the Bierwanderweg (beer walking route) through Ehingen. The Swabian Alb welcomes you with hospitality, magnificent nature, geological history and great beer.

More than 40,000 years ago, homo sapiens left their mark on the Swabian Alb. Around the town of Blaubeuren, you can walk in the footsteps of the Ice Age and see historic artifacts from that time in the Prehistoric Museum such as stone items, utensils, and tools made of bone and ivory.

Jewelry, art and musical instruments were discovered during excavations of the Sirgenstein and Geißenklösterle caves near Blaubeuren. These extraordinary finds are the world’s oldest evidence of figurative art. The Caves, along with four others in the Ach and Lon valleys, are recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

All trails are easy to walk with average fitness. You never overcome more than 370 metres (1,200 feet) of altitude and cover a maximum of 14.4 kilometers (9 miles). You can also easily reach Blaubeuren, Blaustein and Ehingen by train. Nowhere can you experience history and beer as you can in the Swabian Alb. You can look forward to an eventful holiday in the region.