Bahnerlebnisweg
The Swabian Forest is not quite as well known as its namesake from the Swabian Alb. And wrongly so: if you walk along the Bahnerlebnisweg between Rudersberg and Welzheim, you can really immerse yourself in a beautiful forest landscape and, above all, learn a lot. The trail is a combination of hiking trail and educational trail about the history of the Wieslauftalbahn, a listed railroad that is more than 100 years old: a colorful mix of orchards, pretty hamlets, shady forests and deep ravines with impressive waterfalls and viaducts. If you set off on a summer weekend, you also have the opportunity to travel in one direction on a historic steam or diesel train.
The Verband Region Stuttgart has been active in several areas of the Bahnerlebnisweg: with its co-financing program, it has supported the nature trail and the Tannwiese Welzheim rest area. The Michelau oil mill and Lake Aichstrut, whose access and banks were upgraded with the help of the Verband Region Stuttgart, are also located in the immediate vicinity.
Selected highlights
Leisure activities
- Museums: Welzheim Museum, Michelau oil mill in Rudersberg
- Bathing lakes: Aichstruter bathing lake in Welzheim
- Parks and gardens: Welzheim town park, Ostkastell Welzheim archaeological park
- Environmental education: Railway adventure trail
Special landscape features
- Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Park
- Edenbach and Wieslauf gorge nature reserve with streams, blades and caves as well as historic mills
- Natural monument, e.g. Welzheim sequoia trees
Architectural features
- Historic old town: Welzheim
- Cultural monuments: Swabian forest railroad, Igelsbach viaduct, Strümpfelbach viaduct, Laufmühlen viaduct
- UNESCO World Heritage Limes (relics and reconstructions): Eastern fort Welzheim, small Roman fort Rötelsee Welzheim
