The Upper Danube Nature Park (German: ''Naturpark Obere Donau''), founded in 1980, is located in the south of
Baden-Württemberg in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and encloses primarily the districts of
Tuttlingen and
Sigmaringen. It encompassed initially 860 km
2 that were increased by about 500 km
2 in 2005. The headquarters of the nature reserve association is at
Beuron. The highest proportion of the nature park is taken up by the
Heuberg, the south-western plateau of the
Swabian Alb, and is punctuated by the
Danube.
Geography
Two small rivers, the
Brigach
The Brigach is the shorter of two streams that jointly form the river Danube in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Brigach has its source at above sea level within St. Georgen in the Black Forest. The Brigach crosses the city Villingen-Schwenni ...
and the
Breg at the eastern border of the
Black Forest
The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is t ...
unite at
Donaueschingen to form the
Danube.
The Danube passes through the Upper Danube Nature Park between
Immendingen
Immendingen is a municipality in the district of Tuttlingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany located on the Upper Danube. It is famous for the Danube Sinkhole.
Geography
Immendingen is located on the Upper Danube. On the municipal area are part ...
and
Ertingen, its deep bed dug deep into the Jurassic stone of the
Swabian Alb. In this break-through valley of the still narrow river mighty rocks like chalk rocks ("Kalkfelsen") are exposed: One of it is the "
Knopfmacherfelsen" at
Beuron.
Beuron with its
Beuron Archabby lies in the middle of the attractive scenery of the nature reserve.
This break-through valley in the area of the Upper Danube is known as Danube Valley.
The upper part of the Danube passes through following cities:
Tuttlingen,
Mühlheim,
Fridingen,
Sigmaringen,
Scheer and
Mengen.
Geologically and touristically interesting are also the seepages of the Danube ("Donauversickerungen") in
Immendingen
Immendingen is a municipality in the district of Tuttlingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany located on the Upper Danube. It is famous for the Danube Sinkhole.
Geography
Immendingen is located on the Upper Danube. On the municipal area are part ...
and to the south of
Fridingen.
Quite a number of forts and castles are sitting on top of numerous rocks on this stretch above the Danube. These are:
Schloss Bronnen,
Altwildenstein,
Unterwildenstein,
Wildensteiner Burg Hexenturm,
Wildensteiner Burg Hahnenkamm,
Burg Wildenstein,
Schloss Werenwag,
Schloss Gutenstein (
Gutenstein),
Ruine Dietfurt,
Gebrochen Gutenstein,
Hohenzollernschloss Sigmaringen,
Schloss Bartelstein and
Schloss Scheer.
In parallel with the Danube runs the Danube cycle track which leads from Donaueschingen to
Vienna
en, Viennese
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, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
. The Danube valley railroad from Donaueschingen to
Ulm
Ulm () is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Danube on the border with Bavaria. The city, which has an estimated population of more than 126,000 (2018), forms an urban district of its own (german: link=no, ...
enables the visit of the nature reserve by train. Beside regular trains, the so-called nature reserve express train operates during summer months, especially for visitors of the nature reserve between Tuttlingen and Sigmaringen.
Tributaries to the Danube within the nature reserve are: from the south the
Ablach and the
Ostrach, and from the north the
Bära
The Bära is a river in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Bära is a tributary of the Danube, and originates at the confluence of the Obere Bära (''Upper Bära'') and the Untere Bära (''Lower Bära''). The Bära, together with the Lower Bà ...
, the
Schmeie (or
Schmiecha) and the
Lauchert.
Gallery
Image:Donautal vom Knopfmacherfelsen.jpg, View from the 'Knopfmacherfelsen' towards Beuron.
Image:Blick vom Knopfmacherfelsen nach Osten.jpg, View from the 'Knopfmacherfelsen' towards Bronnen castle.
Image:Donaudurchbruch.jpg, The break-through of the Danube at Beuron.
Image:Stiegelefelsen.jpg, The ''Stiegelefelsen'' at Fridingen at the Danube break-through of the Swabian Alb.
Image:Immendingen Donauversickerung 20080714 1.jpg, The nearly dried-out river bed of the Danube at the Danube seepage.
External links
Naturpark Obere DonauDie Aachquelle und ihre Verbindungen zur Donau*
ttp://www.donaubergland.de Donaubergland
{{Authority control
Nature parks in Baden-Württemberg
Danube
Tuttlingen (district)
Sigmaringen (district)
Protected areas established in 1980
1980 establishments in West Germany
Valleys of Baden-Württemberg
South German Scarplands