Venusberg–Wolfsäcker–Besental/Halde Nature Reserve

With an area of 115 hectares, the Venusberg nature reserve is the largest reserve in the Böblingen district. There is also the largest juniper heath in this district.

Strictly speaking, the nature reserve is called "Venusberg/Wolfsäcker/Besental/Halde". This indicates that the nature reserve consists of several separate sub-areas.

The nature reserve, designated in 1985, includes heath and forest landscapes on shell limestone soils. This type of landscape, which runs through almost the whole of Baden-Württemberg, is known as the Gäu. The shell limestone soils in the area are not very fertile and are therefore largely unsuitable for arable farming. They were used as pasture for sheep or as a meadow to be mowed once a year.

Today, this type of cultural landscape has become rare again. In the Venusberg nature reserve, attempts are now being made to preserve the heath through careful maintenance measures. This also includes regular grazing with sheep. The pine forests in the area were reforested in the 19th century. Over time, they are expected to develop back into mixed deciduous forests.

Well worth seeing mountain, you don't see that every day jeden

We're particularly fond of the juniper heath. Even the best sauerkraut doesn't taste good without juniper berries.Here, the berries are plentiful.