Swabian Alb - the cradle of human culture

Taking a journey back in time is a real pleasure in the Swabian Alb. Some of the oldest known works of art in the world have emerged from its mysterious caves. The region is also home to majestic castles and palaces, romantic medieval towns and natural phenomena that were formed millions of years ago. Stretching for 200 kilometres, this mountain range is the main watershed between the Rhine and Danube rivers. With some excellent areas for walking, it is a charming holiday destination for anyone wishing to explore this very special region in the south of Germany.

Hohenzollern Castle - an imperial residence
The hallmark of the Swabian Alb is its wealth of palaces, castles and ancient ruins. Hohenzollern Castle, the ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty, is certainly an impressive sight to behold. With its royal treasury containing the crowns of Prussian kings and objects relating to Frederick the Great, it is one of the most visited castles in Europe. Another Hohenzollern residence worth visiting is Sigmaringen Castle, which houses the largest private collection of weapons in Europe.

In the footsteps of the Pope - the university town of Tübingen
Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedikt XVI, taught at the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen from 1966 to 1969. Romantic half-timbered buildings dominate the townscape here. One of the most photographed attractions is the market square with the Neptune fountain and town hall. From the "Café Pfudere", the house where the poet Isolde Kurz once lived, you can see the astronomical clock designed by Johannes Stöffler, which has been ticking for 490 years. One of the fun leisure activities on off er is punting on the River Neckar. This tradition is celebrated every summer at the wild, but highly amusing punt races.

Tübingen is also an ideal base for excursions to Schönbuch nature reserve, which has a number of walking trails running through it, or Lichtenstein Castle, Württemberg's fairytale castle that sits majestically overlooking the Echaz valley. In other towns such as Reutlingen, Heidenheim, Aalen and Ellwangen, you can visit palaces, castles and abbeys or browse and shop to your heart's content. St. John's Church and the Holy Cross Minster in Schwäbisch Gmünd are also well worth a visit. Fashion-conscious shoppers will love the factory outlets in Metzingen, where you can find affordable fashions by famous international designers.

Bad Urach - everyday traditions
The Shepherd's Race has been held every other year in Bad Urach since 1723. It begins with the trumpeting of the day guard, followed by the Mayor's Dance, a procession and the performance of the "D'Schäferlies", a festival play written especially for this event. The Sheep Dog Trials, at which the shepherds and dogs demonstrate their skills, are a long-standing tradition and an event not to be missed.

200 million years of history at the Geopark
The UNESCO Geopark brings the Earth's geological history to life. You can find dinosaurs from millions of years ago, sea monsters and crocodiles preserved as fossils in the layers of oil shale on the north-westerly edge of the Swabian Alb, in the open countryside and fields, or at fascinating museums. The Swabian Alb, one of Europe's largest plateaus in the heart of the Jura chain that stretches right through central Europe, has one of the highest concentrations of caves in Germany. The most interesting of the more than 2,000 known caves are open to visitors.

Einstein and Co - famous sons and daughters of the Swabian Alb
The theory of relativity - Swabian genius in its purest form. Born in Ulm, Albert Einstein is as much a Swabian export as Gottlieb Daimler and Max Eyth. The teddy bear icon, Margarethe Steiff, also built her empire in the Swabian Alb. In addition, the region has been home to a number of poets and philosophers from Hegel to Hölderlin.

Spätzle and more - à la carte dining in the Swabian Alb
The Swabian Alb is the noodle capital of Germany. Typical specialities include the famous spätzle (noodles). Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) is another speciality that has made history - a long time ago, meat was hidden from the priests in these tasty pasta pouches during Lent. The pretzel was also invented in the Swabian Alb in the 15th century. Count Eberhart the Bearded, the first Duke of Württemberg, asked for a pastry through which the sun could shine three times. To quench their thirst, the people of the Swabian Alb enjoy a good regional beer and if you prefer a drop of bubbly, you can visit Germany's oldest sekt producer in Esslingen.