Vanessa Kopp

Respect, it's a tight tour

Final spurt on the RemstalWeg: With stage 11 you complete the long-distance hiking trail through the picturesque Remstal. The 23-kilometer hike starts in Buoch. If you have spent the night in Grunbach, you can either take the bus back up out of the valley or warm up before. Look forward to the typical Remstal idyll on your way to Remseck, which has been with you for the past few days.You hike a bit downhill at the beginning, then the path leads you through the vineyards and the forest along the Kleinheppacher head. The next few kilometers will be promising: you will continue to hike on the heights and enjoy the most beautiful views of the Rems Valley, surrounded by romantic vineyards. Let the unique landscape work for you again extensively.The last kilometers of your hiking pleasure on the RemstalWegs gradually lead you further downhill towards the Neckarufer. You cross the federal road 14 and accompany the Rems on their last loops through the Lower Remstal. And soon it will be time to say goodbye to the river, which you have come to know intensively from various perspectives in the past few days. At Neckarrems, the Rems flows into the Neckar and continues its journey to the Rhine.You cross the Neckar and you have the stop in Remseck-Neckargröningen within sight. The U12 takes you directly to Stuttgart Central Station in half an hour. But how about relaxing for a while on the Neckar beach in Remseck and letting the 215 kilometers through the magical Remstal valley sink?

On the tenth stage on the RemstalWeg, lush orchards, idyllic villages and romantic vineyards await you - pure Remstal. The almost 24-kilometer hike starts in Miedelsbach near Schorndorf and ends in the municipality of Buoch. If you have spent the night in Schorndorf, you can take the train back up to the starting point of the tour.On today's stage you climb a few meters in altitude, the first you collect at the beginning of the hike on the way from Miedelsbach to Schornbach. You walk through the town and maybe treat yourself to a second breakfast. We continue through the vineyards to Grafenberg. On the way you can enjoy a great view of Schorndorf and the Remstal.You will soon see the white Ostland cross, around twelve meters high, in front of you. There are several hundred of these expelling monuments all over Germany. On the one hand, the cross should remind of the suffering experienced and on the other hand it should set a sign for hope and peace. An ideal place to pause and take a deep breath.Not far from the cross, the path takes you past the Königsstein. The stone commemorates the marriage of King Karl zu Württemberg and Olga, Grand Duchess of Russia. Today there is a nice rest area where you can regain your strength. Because now the path rises again. You walk steadily uphill through shady forests. Then the forest opens and you walk the last piece to orchard meadows until you reach Buoch.In Buoch, it is worth taking a look at the late Gothic Protestant parish church. In the small town you will find a pension and a restaurant. You have more choice in the nearby Grunbach. Either you hike two kilometers down into the valley or you take bus 217.

Lorch was built on the site of a former Roman fort on the so-called "Limesknie". The Upper German and Raetian Limes once met nearby. This is how the ninth stage starts on the RemstalWeg from Lorch to Miedelsbach on the former course of the border - you can still clearly see the wall.The path leads you up and down, through the forest and past beautiful viewpoints into the Rems Valley. You walk past Plüderhausen and Urbach, known for its lush orchards. Again and again you have great views of the valley. You will soon pass the mountain slide at the Kirchsteig. In 2001, the site sagged up to 17 meters over a length of 240 meters. You can find out more about it on information boards. If you have time, you can make a detour on the three-kilometer mountain slide circuit.You will soon have reached today's stage goal Miedelsbach. You can let your gaze wander from the observation tower before you descend into the village. The best way to get from Miedelsbach to Schorndorf is by train in ten minutes. There you have a good selection of accommodation and restaurants. At the end of the day, you can stroll through the picturesque alleys of Daimlerstadt with their half-timbered houses or maybe visit the house where Gottlieb Daimler was born.

On stage 8 of the RemstalWeg, great views alternate with an exciting flora. This is how you pass giant sequoias that feel very comfortable in the Swabian soil. The destination of the almost 18-kilometer tour starting in Schwäbisch Gmünd is Lorch.You leave the Staufer city and climb a bit steeply uphill. From the Lindenfirst observation tower you can enjoy a wonderful view of Schwäbisch Gmünd and the Remstal. Once at the top, you hike in a relaxed up and down through the forest and across fields and meadows.It continues on the Philosophenweg and past Wustenriet down into the Rotenbach valley. On the short and steep forest path you follow the original line of the Limes and hike over the foundations of the Roman building. The path then leads you through the idyllic Haselbach valley and back out of the valley to the Anna blade.Then it goes through the forest towards the Lorch monastery. The RemstalWeg does not take you all the way to the monastery. If you want to take a closer look at the former Benedictine abbey, then a short detour is worthwhile. Next to the monastery is the Staufer falconry, which regularly shows air shows with the birds of prey. You can read the times of the shows here: stauferfalknerei.de.If it is enough for you today, you can hike straight down from the monastery to Lorch. Then you miss the giant sequoia trees, which were planted here in the middle of the 19th century and grew up to 50 meters high. The trees are native to North America, but they also seem to feel comfortable in the Rems Valley.We continue through an unspoilt, narrow forest gorge before you soon reach your destination in Lorch. In Lorch you will find a good selection of places to stop for refreshments and overnight stays.

It continues with stage 7 on the RemstalWeg, more than half of the 215 kilometers are already behind you. The almost 22-kilometer tour takes you from Mögglingen to Schwäbisch Gmünd. Look forward to a beautiful hike across fields, through the forest and along the Limes World Heritage Site. No big climbs await you today.You cover the first few kilometers on the Limesweg, which follows the former Roman border on a 250 kilometer route. Boards along the way tell you more about the history of the gigantic building, which begins at Andernach am Rhein, stretches across Lorch and ends as the Raetischer Limes near Einingen an der Donau.You continue on the ridge and enjoy beautiful views of the Swabian Jura and the three Kaiserberge mountains between Göppingen and Schwäbisch Gmünd - Hohenstaufen, Rechberg and Stuifen. The wonderful panorama accompanies you for a while. You can relax across meadows and fields, cross Lindach and set course for your stage destination Schwäbisch Gmünd, the largest city in the Rems Valley.At the end of the day you can stroll through the beautiful old town and make yourself comfortable in one of the street cafes. On the banks of the Rems you will also find many great places that were properly spruced up as part of the 2019 garden show. In the “Forum Gold and Silber”, a striking building in the center of the village - which somehow resembles a Swiss cheese - you can enjoy Swabian and Mediterranean dishes on the expansive roof terrace.

You come up high on the sixth stage of the RemstalWeg: You hike from Heubach over the Rosenstein, at 735 meters the highest point of the long-distance hiking trail. The goal of the almost 24-kilometer tour is Mögglingen. Today's stage is the turning point of the RemstalWeg. In Essingen the route bends and you start the way back through the other side of the Rems valley.From Heubach, however, the route is uphill at first. After almost two kilometers you will pass the Rosenstein castle ruins, from which you have a great view of the valley. The Rosenstein is also known for its many caves. The mountain is perforated by around 40 caves, such as the "Große Scheuer". You hike through the 44 meter long and up to seven meter high cave. Thanks to the large openings, it is bright enough and you don't need a flashlight.Then it goes downhill, past other caves to Lautern. Due to its numerous horticultural companies, Lautern is also called the "gardener village". You cross the village, you can get a pretzel in your hand at the local baker and hike uphill again. The path winds up, past Lauterburg and a little further.You have now collected your altitude difference for today, from now on it is only downhill. It is worth taking a short detour to the Rems origin. The 80 km long river rises at 550 meters. On its way to the mouth of the Neckar, the Rems covers a gradient of almost 350 meters. You can take a short break at the source - after all, in the river you are your constant companion on your hike.We continue downhill to Essingen. You can stop there or take a break in the castle park. Along the banks of the Rems, you hike the last kilometers to your stage destination Mögglingen. There you will find everything you need for a relaxing evening after a long day of hiking.

On the fifth stage of the RemstalWeg, you can look forward to a varied hike across meadows and through shady forests. On the second half of the almost 19-kilometer tour, a nice climb awaits you - of course including a great view. Start your hike to Heubach at the chapel in Straßdorf.At the beginning you hike on a flat route along the sculpture path "Paths to Art". The path leads you further across meadows and fields before you dive into the forest and the first climb of the day is pending: It goes up to the so-called war plain. The bunkers on the area were once built by the US Army, but now they serve as a shelter for bats.Then you run downhill again and through the hamlet in the mountains. Here you can take a break and have a look at the Church of St. Michael. The picturesque place belongs to the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd and is located in the Strümpfelbach valley. Then the next long climb is on. Once at the top you can take a break in the Naturfreundehaus Himmelreich and enjoy the beautiful view.You can already see your today's stage destination Heubach from the east rock of Scheuelberg. On a serpentine path you descend the last kilometers of the hike and can look forward to a relaxing evening in Heubach. In the village you will find everything you need: accommodations, restaurants, supermarkets and an outdoor pool. If you are still looking for something to do in the afternoon, you can, for example, visit the castle in Heubach and see the exhibition in the Heimat- und Miedermuseum.

The fourth stage on the RemstalWeg is relaxed with its almost twelve kilometers and 240 meters of altitude, so you can start the day comfortably. If you have spent the night in Lorch, you can take a round through the town to start the day and have a look at the monastery. By the way, Lorch was on the Limes in Roman times. You will learn more about this on your way through the Remstal.You hike from Lorch back up from the Rems Valley to the actual starting point of the tour in Unterkirneck. Alternatively, you can cover the first climb by bus towards Göppingen. Then you start your hike towards Oberkirneck along the golf course. Shortly afterwards the path leads you into the forest.Passing the frog fountain, which offers perfect cooling on a hot summer day, the zigzag course takes you through the Great Catherine Forest. You hike further into the Hölltal and cross the Tiefenbach. Hunger? Then you can order a little refreshment at the barbecue hut at the shooting club.The path turns another curve through the forest before you pass a testimony of Roman history: the Schirenhof fort. It was built around 150 near the Rhaetian Limes. In the immediate vicinity of the fort there are also remains of the fort bath and a burial ground.It is not far from here to today's stage destination Straßdorf. A small chapel marks the end of the tour. In Straßdorf you can stay at the Gasthof Krone for the night. In the district of Schwäbisch Gmünd you will also find a supermarket to fill up your supplies.

It continues with stage 3 on the over 200 kilometers long RemstalWeg. The 17 kilometer route starts in Schorndorf-Steinmäurich and leads you to the tranquil Unterkirneck. If you have spent the night in the old town of Schorndorf, go gently up the mountain for two kilometers to the starting point. Did you already know that Gottlieb Daimler, the developer of the gasoline engine, was born in Schorndorf?Back on the way you hike a bit uphill and then on a relatively flat route through the Schorndorfer city forest and the foothills of the Herrschafts- and the Siebenblade. Blades are small notch valleys that have arisen over time through water and shear erosion. You will soon pass the Schönblickhütte.The path climbs a bit again and leads you past the Frauenberg with the ghost house. The name of the forester's cottage is no coincidence: According to legend, a predator was once punished here by wild forest spirits. Harmless hikers can pass the place without hesitation. It is not far from here to the boundary stone, which marks the border between the Rems-Murr district and the Ostalb district.On the heights you hike through the forest in a relaxed manner. As soon as the trees clear, you can already see the church tower of the Rattenharzer Holzkirche in front of you. On the horizon you can see the cone of the Hohenstaufen. The mountain, which is over 680 meters high and is one of the three Kaiserbergen mountains, stands out in the distance.Final sprint: You will soon have reached your Unterkirneck stage goal. The city of Lorch im Tal offers a better choice for overnight stays. You can either drive down from the Hohenlinde bus stop to the Rems or you can walk another two kilometers into the village. In Lorch you will find a wide range of restaurants and accommodation. If you still have time and energy, then an evening walk around the Locher quarry ponds is worthwhile.