Over the Schienerberg to Hohenklingen
This circular walk links Bankholzen with the German–Swiss border area on the Schienerberg and the hills above Stein am Rhein. Between stretches of woodland, the Herrentisch and Chroobachhütte offer views across the Hegau; at Hohenklingen, the landscape opens out towards the Untersee and High Rhine.
Translated from German with the help of AI. Audio guides are available in German. Read the original in German
From Bankholzen onto the Schienerberg
The circular walk starts on Schienerbergstraße in Bankholzen and returns to the same point. The village at the northern foot of the Schienerberg has been documented since the 11th century. Half-timbered houses in the village centre form part of its historic fabric. From here, the walk leads up into the hills of the Schienerberg.
The first named woodland section is a sunken lane through beech woods. Here, the defining feature is the path itself, worn deep into the ground. The route then reaches a viewpoint on the Schienerberg. Woodland stretches interspersed with viewpoints thus set the tone for the first part of the walk.
The border area and views across the Hegau
Near Oberschrotzburg, the route follows the old border. On the Schienerberg, Germany and Switzerland meet in a continuous landscape of hills. The route continues to the Herrentisch, with views across the Hegau and the area around Singen. The distinctive volcanic hills form the backdrop to this viewpoint.
The next stop, the Chroobachhütte, also offers panoramic views of the Hegau. The rest area in front of it has seating and a fire pit. The hut itself is not open for use. With their views, the Herrentisch and Chroobachhütte provide 2 distinct scenic landmarks along the walk.
Wooded hills above the Rhine
The circuit continues to the Wolkensteinerberg woodland track and then the Wolkensteinerberg itself. This hill lies in the Swiss part of the Schienerberg, above the High Rhine between Hemishofen and Stein am Rhein. Another woodland track follows. Wooded hills define the character of this part of the walk.
Hohenklingen and the lake and river landscape
At Hohenklingen, the barbecue area and viewpoint are close together. The covered barbecue spot on the Klingenwiese lies near the medieval castle. Hohenklingen was initially the seat of the bailiff of Sankt Georgen Abbey and passed to the town of Stein am Rhein in the 15th century.
The viewpoint opens up views of the town and the point where the Untersee gives way to the High Rhine. Below, the waterway, bridge and historic town come together. This view is the last named highlight of the circuit before it returns to Bankholzen.
Stops along the route
Bankholzen Schienerbergstraße
bei km 0.0 ·
At the northern foot of the Schienerberg lies a village with a long history of settlement. Bankholzen was first mentioned in historical records in 1050. Its name derives from the personal name Banchel or Banchilo. The village belonged to the lordship of Bohlingen and passed with it to the Bishop of Constance at the end of the 15th century. It remained part of this territory until 1803, after which it belonged to Baden. Half-timbered houses from the 18th and 19th centuries are among the features of its historic village centre.
Sunken lane in the beech woods on the Schienerberg
bei km 3.2 ·
Here, the route follows a sunken lane through the beech woods on the Schienerberg. Its hollowed-out shape sets it apart from the surrounding forest floor.
Viewpoint
bei km 5.4 ·
This viewpoint is on the Schienerberg, south-west of Bankholzen. It lies in the uplands above the village.
Trail along the old border near Oberschrotzburg
bei km 9.8 ·
A path runs through the border area near Oberschrotzburg here. Germany and Switzerland meet on the Schienerberg, with the national border cutting across an otherwise continuous landscape.
View of the Hegau and Singen from Herrentisch
bei km 11.7 ·
The Hegau lies before you with its distinctive volcanic hills. From Herrentisch, their individual shapes form a line across the landscape. This panorama is also known as the Hegauer Kegelspiel, or ‘Hegau skittles’. The view looks north towards the area around Singen. The viewpoint is on the Swiss side of the Schienerberg near Hemishofen, with a barbecue area right beside it. This spot combines sweeping landscape views with a well-equipped place to rest by the border.
Chroobachhütte
bei km 12.1 ·
The hut has a rest area with plenty of seating and a fire pit. From here, views open up across the Hegau and its volcanic hills. The Chroobachhütte is on Swiss territory near Hemishofen and is a named rest stop on the Schienerberg. The outdoor facilities are available for breaks, but the inside of the hut cannot be used. The name therefore refers to a hut site with barbecue facilities, rather than a mountain inn serving food and drink.
Wolkensteinerberg
bei km 22.7 ·
This wooded hill forms part of the Schienerberg and lies between Hemishofen and Stein am Rhein. Both places sit below it on the High Rhine. The Wolkensteinerberg rises to just over 600 metres and is part of the hilly landscape in the east of the canton of Schaffhausen. Its history includes the medieval Wolkenstein castle site, elsewhere on the hill. The site is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property. The hill and the castle site thus have related names, but refer to different places.
Hohenklingen barbecue area with a view
bei km 28.2 ·
There is a well-equipped barbecue area on the Klingenwiese near the castle, with a covered fire pit and plenty of seating. It lies within the grounds surrounding Hohenklingen, the medieval castle above Stein am Rhein. The castle was originally the seat of the bailiff of Sankt Georgen Abbey. In 1457, it became the property of the town. Later, it served as a fire lookout and a signalling post. Its elevated position thus long made it a vantage point for watching over the town and surrounding countryside.
View of Stein am Rhein and the Seerhein from Hohenklingen
bei km 28.3 ·
Below you lies Stein am Rhein, where the Untersee gives way to the High Rhine. From the heights near Hohenklingen, you can see this transition from lake to river. The old town is a protected site of national importance in Switzerland. Its development is closely linked to its waterside location: the town was a bridgehead and a transhipment point for river transport. The castle above the rooftops belonged to the town from the 15th century onwards. It served as a lookout for fires and a watch post from which signals could be sent across the surrounding area.
Practical
- Start
- Bankholzen, Schienerbergstraße
· Navigate to the start - Weather
- Loading weather …
- Live bus and train times
- Loading departures …
- Places to eat and drink
- Restaurant Burg Hohenklingen, near the stops above Stein am Rhein. Check opening hours in advance.
- Notes
- The route passes through Germany and Switzerland. This long circular walk involves repeated ascents and descents and requires good stamina. The interior of the Chroobachhütte is not available for use.
Your location is only used for guidance and any requested route changes. Watch out for traffic and follow signs.
The duration is an estimate and does not include breaks. Pay attention to signs, closures and the weather. In an emergency: 112. Quelle des Wegverlaufs: Komoot.
Datenquellen
- Map: © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap-Mitwirkende
- Paths and places: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT · © OpenStreetMap-Mitwirkende
- Bus and train: Deutsche Bahn AG, Timetables API (CC BY 4.0)
- Weather: Deutscher Wetterdienst (über Bright Sky)
- Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0)
- Tourismusdaten: Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus (DZT) – Knowledge Graph, Daten der jeweiligen Anbieter