Just thinking about the Swabian Alb gives me a bit of a thrill. So, imagine my excitement about the town of Bisingen (only 6km southwest of Hechingen) which sits right at the foothills of the Alb in Baden-Württemberg.
Could it be the natural scenic beauty of the area that gives me goosebumps? Maybe its the massive Hohenzollern Castle and some other castle ruins? Could it be the draw of the border of the not so distant Black Forest?
I know, maybe it’s not one thing. I’m thinking that it’s a combination of it all.
Another reason many people come to Bisingen is the Hohenzollernstraße, a route that follows the royal House of Hohenzollern. One of the most beautiful of their castles is right here, the Hohenzollern Castle.
Even if you’re not into “royal” culture, if you miss out seeing this castle you’re gonna regret it. More than 300,000 visitors come see the Burg Hohenzollern, and they’ll tell you this castle is something you’ve never ever seen yet.
Hohenzollern Castle not only holds the crown of Wilhelm II, but it also has the effects of (the infamous) Frederick the Great and a letter to Baron von Steuben from George Washington thanking him for his help during the American Revolution.
I’m thinking a note might not be quite a big enough thank you gift for helping him win a country — I hope he sent along a bottle of wine at least to go with it. ;-)
The Burgruine Ror might seem a lot less dramatic. But, it’s beautiful in its own way. This castle’s been long gone for much longer than it stood (built 12th century & destroyed 1311) so go ahead, use your imagination to picture it your way.
Another stop on your itinerary may be the Exhibition of the Bisingen Concentration Camp, once housing over 15,000 prisoners during the days of World War II.
While you’re sitting up there on Burg Hohenzollern you can think about the amazing town of Bisingen. Hopefully, you’ll get goosebumps when you think about other Swabian Alb towns, too.
