Bordering the town of Hechingen is the Swabian town of Bodelshausen.
It truly is a family-friendly spot — a place that was located right along the border between what was once Württemberg and Hohenzollern.
It’s geographical borders don’t change the fact that for a small town of just over 5,000 people, you’ll have lots of fun; and the opportunity to see some endangered species of animals.
The best place to see these rare animals is by the Butzensee, wetlands that’ll keep you busy trekking along the countryside of the Black Forest Nature Park and the Swabian Alb.
This isn’t the only place to go hiking or biking, by the way. The Pastureland Zollernblick is easy enough — just 2.5 km in a loop so you don’t get lost. And if that’s a little too tame, try the Tübingen Cycle Route #3, or the Hohenzollern Cycle Route.
As for fun, Bodelshausen is a nice place to be the week before Easter, when it hosts its Easter Fair. Then you’ve got the Dorfstraßenfest (Village Streets Festival) in July, and its Carnival Parade in February. The Easter Fair, by the way, is held right by the Rathaus (Town Hall) — and the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) is built right over what used to be a medieval chapel.
Yeah, you knew there was going to be some history somewhere, didn’t you?
Bodelhausen has a cute Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum) that keeps changing its exhibits, so you’ll always see something fresh and new. Still, it’s a good way to looking how the town used to be a simple farming village. You just need to do it on the first Sunday of the month between April and October. It’s possible to see it at other times, but you’re going to have to call ahead.
And if you’ve got the time, there’s a Fossil Museum and the Roman Outdoor Museum located close by. It’s possible to be distracted by the half-timbered houses found along Altenhofenstraße, though.
The Schwarzwald, or just about anywhere in Baden-Württemberg for that matter, will never cease to amaze you — especially since it’s filled with towns like Bodelshausen.
