Directions
Unobstructed lines of sight offer full views of the cityscape. At various locations, modern steles now form the framework for the current views, which correspond so impressively with the historical city vedute.
Hauptstraße 21 (tourist information centre) is the start of our tour. The path leads down the main street, over the viaduct and before the former nursery, take a sharp right down the steps. The start of the shortened tour (5) is reached behind the shingle bridge in the Au.
Next to the car park at the Schützenhaus, a footpath leads slightly uphill into the forest. After about 300 metres, you reach the hill and come to a small road leading from Tafelgasse.
If you now look back, you will see the classic view of the town from the east (1).
After a short rest, turn left along the edge of the forest and after about 80 metres you will reach the next viewpoint (2). This is another true postcard motif.
In front of the picturesque city skyline, the Neckar flows under the historic Schindelbrücke bridge and directly towards the viewer. Here the view of the "once fortified town, situated on a rocky plateau" becomes an experience.
We now continue down the narrow forest path in serpentines and reach a small valley depression. Below, we can see the Neckar footbridge, but cross the hollow and reach another viewpoint (3) above the floodplain via a short climb with steps. Here you can take a short break on the bench.
The panoramic path now leads along the steep slope and is secured by a railing. After 300 metres, we pass the Höllenstein spring (4), but initially follow the path in front of us, continuing along the steep slope with the protective railing to the viewing platform (5).
Below this is the Löwenmaul, an interesting rock formation that we will take a closer look at from below on the way back. The Neckar meadow below us was once the site of the town's bleaching works; today it offers a surprising insight into the modern technology and activity of the town's sewage treatment plant.
We continue along the path and eventually pass an overgrown garden (6). Historical pictures show the unobstructed view of the town.
We go back a little and follow the path to the left and uphill, to the open plateau, in the direction of the test tower. The "Living Industrial Culture" trail continues here, but we turn back.
The view of the town centre (7) is particularly attractive in winter when there is no foliage.
The way back now leads slightly above in the forest in a loop back to the spring (4), which rises romantically under a tree root.
The path now winds down into the valley in steps, whereby the view back to the magnificent tufa formation is particularly worthwhile.
Once we reach the bottom of the valley, the Löwenmaul opens up imposingly above us. The shape of the shell limestone rock speaks for itself.
We follow the Neckar through a beech grove and finally reach the König Karl Bridge. From there, there are further views of the city panorama and the two old mills (8).
The starting point of the shortened tour is reached again via the footpath behind the nursery down to the Schindelbrücke bridge.
To reach the town centre, however, we now take the little road to the right, along the foot of the viaduct, past the former "Linde" inn and back to the main road.
