Albstadt is located in the Swabian Alb in Baden-Württemberg. A city tour of Albstadt is not so easy, because the city area consists of various districts, some of which are quite far apart.
If you look at the city area a little more closely, you can give an approximate delimitation: 614m – 966m altitude, on the northwestern border of the Albtrauf, in the valleys of the Eyach and Schniecha.
Albstadt was formed on January 1, 1975 by the merger of the towns of Ebingen (with Laufen an der Eyach, Lautlingen and Margrethausen), Tailfingen (with Truchtelfingen) with the municipalities of Onstmettingen and Pfeffingen (with Burgfelden).
A look back
Due to the numerous municipalities and towns that today define the cityscape, it is of course not easy to create a brief history of its origin. Each place has its own history, which shaped the life.
Today, the oldest written mentions of the villages Ebingen, Laufen, Lautlingen, Pfeffingen and Tailfingen can be found in a document of the monastery St.Gallen. In 1285 Ebingen received the city rights.
In the middle of the 11th century Ebingen belonged to the Zollern and later passed to the Counts of Hohenberg and from 1367 to Württemberg. Other places and municipalities also became Württemberg in the course of the next centuries.
In the region, craftsmanship and industry have always been an important economic mainstay. Around 1770, Philipp Matthäus Hahn developed precision scales here, which were later manufactured industrially. The textile industry is another important economic focus of the region from 1750.
An important milestone in the economic development of the region is the opening of the Zollernbahn, which runs from Tübingen to Sigmaringen. In 1878, the railroad stations in Laufen, Lautlingen and Ebingen opened and thus the region connected to the railroad network.
From 1918/19, the current city area was part of the free state of Württemberg and from 1947 it fell to the newly established state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern. In 1952, Baden, Württemberg-Hohenzollern and Württemberg-Baden merged to form the state of Baden-Württemberg. Albstadt was finally created in 1975 through the merger of towns and municipalities.
City walk through Albstadt-Ebingen
Albstadt-Ebingen is one of the central and most urban areas of Albstadt not only because of its railroad connection. The Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, hospitals and administrative facilities for the urban area are located here.
We strolled a little through the city area and discovered some interesting places. Walking through the pedestrian zone, we came across the market fountain with a knight figure in front of the town hall. The fountain dates back to 1545, the Renaissance knight was replaced by a copy in 1960. The original is in the town library.
The Ebingen town hall was built in 1912/13 according to the designs of a Stuttgart architect. The building in the Reform style shows Art Nouveau influences on the facade. The show gable facing Marktstraße is decorated with ornamental elements donated by citizens of Ebling.
In the pedestrian zone there are some sculptures, such as the man reading a newspaper or the fountain entitled “Excavations”. A whimsical fountain that refers to the politicians of the recent past. These are represented as mythical creatures.
I was particularly pleased when we discovered a “Persiluhr”. It is one of 35 Persiluhrs throughout Germany and has been in Sonnenstraße since 2012.
Only little of Ebingen’s former city fortifications has been preserved. The citizen tower from the time around 1500 is considered one of the landmarks of the city.
One of the most beautiful fountains stands at the beginning of the pedestrian zone. Even if there is no water splashing here, it is worth passing by and looking at the lovingly and very detailed reliefs. Each picture depicts a scene from Albstadt and gives a little insight into life in the city.
St. Martin’s Church
St. Martin’s Church stands on the edge of the pedestrian zone.
In 1905, the nave of the former St. Martin’s Church, which had become dilapidated and too small, was demolished and a three-nave Art Nouveau church was built. The late Gothic choir and the lower part of the tower were preserved and integrated into the new building. The tower was raised by 50 meters and the copper helmet with the lantern was placed on top.
After a bomb caused great destruction to St. Martin’s Church in 1944, during the Second World War, the interior was completely redesigned in 1954.
If you go into the church today, the pulpit from 1682, decorated with gold leaf, immediately catches your eye. On the left side of the choir is a high relief. This depicts the tomb of knight Heinrich von Ringelstein, called “Affenschmaltz”, from 1413. He is said to have earned his living as a horseman in Italy.
What is there to see outside the pedestrian zone?
We took a look inside the St. Joseph’s Church. A really beautiful church, where you can quietly indulge your thoughts.
The townscape of Albstadt-Ebingen is of course also determined by numerous factory buildings from the time around 1900. Again and again, you pass buildings that are used quite differently today, but are part of the industrial culture of the region. Some villas, which used to be the homes of the factory owners, are very reminiscent of the villa district of the industrialists in Crimmitschau.
Worth seeing in other districts of Albstadt
In Albstadt Lautingen is the Foundation Sewing Machine Museum Collection Albrecht Mey. We visited the museum and admired the beautiful sewing machines. If you want to know more about it, you can find a detailed report here.
In Tailfingen, the Maschenmuseum is located in a former building of a textile mesh factory. On 1200 m² of exhibition space, you can learn everything about mesh fashion. A walk through the surrounding streets is worthwhile. Here, half-timbered houses stand next to old factory buildings. A very interesting mix.
Restaurant tip in Albstadt-Eblingen: Brauhaus Zollernalb
The Brauhaus Zollernalb is located directly at the train station of Albstadt-Eblingen, in a former goods shed. Via a ramp you reach the entrance to the cozy brewhouse.
You should definitely reserve a table, even if you are traveling as a couple. We were in the restaurant on two evenings and every table was always occupied. But that has a really very good reason. Not only the beer, but also the food is excellent.
The kitchen offers “warm cuisine” at certain times with mainly regional dishes. Everything is freshly prepared and so it can take a while until the food is ready. We have tried Maultaschen, Spätzle and meaty dishes. It was very good every time, very rich and a successful end to the day.
The beer at Brauhaus Zollernalb is brewed directly on site. The brew kettles in which the master brewer makes the beers are located in the brewhouse. The ingredients for the beers are purchased as regionally as possible. For example, most of the malt comes from the Zollernalb region. In addition to some seasonal offerings, Brauhaus Zollernalb brews mainly three different beers.
The pilsner tastes like a pilsner should: finely tart, pleasantly hoppy and not too malty. The cellar cloudy, golden shimmering beer has an original wort of 11.7% and an alcohol content of 4.9%.
The wheat has an alcohol content of 5.3% and an original wort of 12.3%. The top-fermented beer is very carbonated and tingles fruity in the finish. I found the taste smooth and pleasant.
I liked the Export, a cellar-cloudy beer, the best. The beer is drinkable and full-bodied. You hardly notice the 5.3% alcohol content.
Accommodation tip in Albstadt-Eblingen: Apartments by Intermezzo
The Apartments by Intermezzo are located in the middle of Albstadt-Eblingen, on the pedestrian zone. We were able to pick up the key to the apartment at Café Intermezzo across the street and then move into the modern 2-room apartment.
Apartment number 1 is located on the second floor and is easily accessible by elevator.
The apartment is large and very bright. The bedroom has a large closet and a comfortable double bed. The combined living-kitchen room is furnished with a sofa corner (sofa bed) with TV, a dining table and a modern kitchenette. Ideal for a longer stay. The wifi is free of charge and worked very well.
We felt very comfortable there.
Those arriving by car can use the free parking lot a few steps from the front door (register in advance!). Bicycles can be parked in the lockable bike room.
Booking options Apartments by Intermezzo
Travel information about Albstadt
Arrival
By plane
From Stuttgart airport you can reach Albstadt in about 75 minutes by car.
Near Albstadt is the airfield Albstadt-Degerfeld. It is licensed for airplanes up to 1500 kg. The airfield is used for gliding and belongs to the Luftsportverein Degerfeld e. V..
By train
Albstadt is located on the railroad line of the Zollernalbbahn, which runs from Tübingen to Sigmaringen. There are trains about every hour in the direction of Tübingen, and about every two hours to Sigmaringen. In addition, an Interregio express train runs every two hours in the direction of Stuttgart or Aulendorf.
By bus
The city area is connected to the public transport system by city and regional bus lines. The uniform tariff of the Neckar-Alb-Donau Transport Association (NALDO) applies to all means of transport.
By car
The city can be reached via the B 463 Pforzheim-Sigmaringen. From the federal highway A 81 you can drive into the region via the country road.
The visit to Albstadt took place as part of a research trip with the support of Albstadt Tourismus and piroth.Kommunikation.
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