Esslinger Höhenweg – panoramic Tour around the towns on the Neckar

On the Esslinger Höhenweg you will discover the beauty of the medieval city from a new perspective. Esslingen am Neckar with its historic old town is always worth a visit. 1,200 years of city history and over 600 architectural monuments, some of which you will pass on this tour, allow you to travel back in time.

In the here and now you can explore some of the Esslingen districts above the Neckar Valley on the approximately 28 kilometer long high-altitude trail. The tour takes you around the Esslingen city area like a ring. You walk along the edge of the Fildern and the Schurwald. You cross the Neckar Valley twice, immerse yourself in the old town and hike through orchards, vineyards and forests. You always have a beautiful view: of the Neckar valley and the historic city center of Esslingen, of the Fildern and Stuttgart-Rotenberg with the grave chapel on the Württemberg. When the weather is good, you can even see the Swabian Alb.

If you have enough fitness, you can complete the Esslinger Höhenweg in one day. It's much more relaxing if you divide it into two to three daily stages. Shorter walks for the whole family are also possible here, because you can get on a bus or train every two to five kilometers and cover as many routes as you like.

The traditional starting point of the Esslinger Höhenweg is at the Froschkönig restaurant in the Oberesslinger Garden City. You can park your car in the parking lot nearby or take the bus to the Oberesslingen Gartenstadt stop. This start has the advantage that you can master the longest climb of the tour first when you are still fresh. In total, around 600 meters of altitude have to be overcome on the tour. Your path takes you from here to Kimmichsweiler, to the Jägerhaus and the Friedenslinde, to Wäldenbronn and to the observation tower at the Katharinenlinde. Via the Rüdener Heide you reach the Uhlbacher vineyards, Rüdern and the Esslingen market square. We continue to Pliensauvorstadt, to Berkheim and through the “Alter Neckar” nature reserve before the circular route closes. There are numerous places to stop for refreshments along your way.