Hechingen-Stein's attractions include Villa Rustica, a Roman estate with numerous outbuildings and a temple area. Hohenzollern Castle near Hechingen is a must. The ancestral seat of both the Prussian-Brandenburg and the Electoral-Catholic lines of the House of Hohenzollern, it is one of the finest and most visited castles in Europe. The spectacular panoramic views across the Swabian Alb were admired by Kaiser Wilhelm II, no less, on his visit to the castle in 1886. A tour of the state rooms and the displays of treasures from the Hohenzollern collections is a fascinating experience. In the royal treasury the crowns of Prussian kings are on show, along with a wealth of objects relating to Frederick the Great, Queen Luise and other famous figures in German history, with which the House of Hohenzollern is inextricably linked. The castle is open to visitors all year round.
Next, the tour heads south along the river Lauchert through Jungnau to Sigmaringen, the Hohenzollern's former seat on the Danube. Sigmaringen's landmark, the castle of the princes of Hohenzollern, stands high above the Danube on a white Jurassic limestone spur. Beuron Abbey is a Benedictine abbey with a wonderful library and magnificent baroque church. Between Krauchenwies and Ostrach the route skirts the Ostrach valley and passes Habsthal Abbey, which also has a fine church. At Balingen, one of Germany's sunniest locations, don't miss the Hohenzollern castle and the water tower above the river Eyach. The Hohenzollern Route has beautiful countryside, romantic river valleys, unspoilt nature, art, culture, palaces, castles and abbeys. Whether you opt for a tour on foot, by bike or from the comfort of a car, don't forget to take full advantage of the delicious Swabian cuisine - in the style of the Hohenzollerns, of course.