Böbingen: From the station via the Roman fort to the Klotzbachaue

From the station to the Roman past

The walk through the different layers of Böbingen’s history begins at the railway station. Its first historic highlight is on the Bürgle. A Roman fort once stood here, and its surviving foundations are now accessible as an open-air archaeological site. The position above the Remstal formed part of the military defences associated with the Limes frontier on the opposite side of the valley.

The fort was built in the 2nd century under Emperor Antoninus Pius. Its almost rectangular site was protected by walls, towers and ditches. Remains of the south gate and eastern defences reveal parts of its layout. Other sections lie beneath present-day buildings. Archaeological traces and the town’s modern life thus sit side by side.

Village history at the Michaelskirche

From the Bürgle, the route continues to the Michaelskirche in the old centre of Oberböbingen. The church stands on the hill between the Klotzbach and Schlierbach streams and has Romanesque origins. Its appearance reflects repeated alterations: a Gothic chancel was added to the early building in the 15th century, alongside changes to the roof and tower.

The history of this site reaches back even further. Remains of an earlier building were found beneath the present church. Later, the Reformation left its mark on religious life: Oberböbingen received its first Protestant pastor in 1553. This stop therefore brings together the history of the building, the village and those who once ruled it.

Finishing in the Klotzbachaue

After the Michaelskirche, the Klotzbachaue forms the final section of the walk. The park beside the old railway embankment was created for the Remstal Gartenschau 2019 and covers around 5 hectares. Flower beds and wildflower meadows, trees and shrubs, and access points to the Klotzbach stream shape the grounds. Play areas, seating and an events space complement the green spaces.

Alongside Böbingen’s older historic sites, this is a more recent example of public open-space design. The stream and its floodplain define this final stop, as does its role as a place for people to spend time together. The walk ends in the Klotzbachaue area; a return to the station is not part of the route.