Discovery tour of castle ruins and palaces

Schaffhausen - Diessenhofen - Stein am Rhein - Öhningen - Gaienhofen - Iznang - Bohlingen - Rielasingen - Singen - Hohentwiel - Hilzingen - Weiterdingen - Blumenfeld - Neuhaus - Bargen - Merishausen - Schaffhausen.

Hohenklingen: Approximately 200 m above Stein am Rhein lies the castle probably founded around 1100. After several changes of ownership, the castle had to be sold to the then Imperial city. Two years later, the city concluded a protective alliance with Zurich and Schaffhausen. Thus it became part of the Confederates. At that time it was an important military and firefighting watch post. A complete renovation took place from 1895 to 1898. In 1945 and 2007 the interior of the castle was extensively renovated and today it houses a restaurant.

Hohentwiel: Most beautiful and best known Hegau mountain. The sturdy mountain, an extinct volcano with its distinctive contours and seemingly inaccessible rock faces, has been occupied since the Late Neolithic. With over 9 ha, the volcanic cone carries one of the largest fortress ruins in southern Germany. According to written records from the 10th century, the Hohentwiel was a ducal palace and for about 40 years the seat of a monastery dedicated to Saint George, which was moved to Stein am Rhein around 1005. After this period, the Hohentwiel passed to various noble families. In the turmoil of the Peasants' War, the then owner, Duke Ulrich of Württemberg, expanded the castle into one of the seven Württemberg state fortresses. This castle has experienced many wars and intrigues. Today the conflict between tourist use and nature conservation (the area around the mountain was placed under nature protection in 1941) is at the forefront. Hohentwiel is a popular destination for romantics and history enthusiasts.

Hohenstoffeln: Consists of three castles: Vorder-, Mittel- and Hinterstoffeln. The eastern Stofflerhof, the southeastern Sennhof, and the Burgweiler Burghausen on the northwest slope belong to the castles. The Hohenstoffeln, marked by two peaks, is one of the landmarks of the Hegau. On both peaks you will find the castle ruins. Possibly there was earlier a fortified settlement from the Urnfield period and a late Roman settlement on the mountain. The Hinter- and Mittelstoffeln castles on the northern peak originated from one complex. The Vorderstoffeln castle on the southern peak is first mentioned in 1358 as a new castle. Once court life thrived on the three castles, and numerous military conflicts also took place. Today, only ruins remain of these once proud castles. An earthquake in 1857, a lightning strike in 1883, and the basalt quarrying in 1912 on the northern peak nearly led to the destruction of the mountain and its castles. To this day, the gigantic remains of the quarry on the northern peak and parts of the old cable car system point to the former mining activity.

Munot: Impressive city fortress above the city of Schaffhausen and the Rhine. Apart from the Rhine Falls, the Munot is the landmark of Schaffhausen. The fortress was built between 1564 and 1589 by the citizens of Schaffhausen as forced labor. The construction principle of the Munot can be compared to Albrecht Dürer's idea of a circular bastion that is free on all sides and surrounded by an expanded city moat, enabling ideal all-around defense.

Roadworthy bicycle (racing bike if available), drinks and snacks for in between, as well as a bicycle helmet.

Note(s): The ferry across the Rhine operates only from April to October (Monday to Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., on Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.). Outside the season, switch to variant E. This route is cross-border. Remember your ID.

Starting point: Old town Schaffhausen

Route planner

Starting point: Old town Schaffhausen

Stop: Schaffhausen train station

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Visit the Munot fortress in Schaffhausen, the Hohenklingen castle in Stein am Rhein, and enjoy the view.