The best walks and hikes around Göcklingen

The 'Alte Tongrube' (Old Clay Pit) biotope was created in the 70s and 80s through clay extraction. The diversity of pond dwellers can be wonderfully observed from the wooden boardwalk. Clay was extracted here until the end of the 90s. The deposit was formed during the Tertiary period about 20 million years ago in a freshwater lake at the edge of the mountains. After renaturation, a species-rich habitat (biotope) has developed for many - partly rare - animals and plants. [...] Help preserve this natural paradise by, for example, keeping your dog on a leash, not feeding the waterfowl (risk of contagion among them), not trampling on nests, not leaving any rubbish, and not swimming! [...] The boardwalk is particularly suitable for wildlife observation because the wild animals are accustomed to people being present here.

The dragon's teeth (anti-tank obstacle) is part of the former Westwall, a relic from World War II. Source and further detailed information: information board on site This is where the "360-degree trail Göcklingen" (Station 1) starts.

The dragon's teeth line (anti-tank obstacle) is part of the former Westwall, a relic from World War II. It leads here along the Krottenbach. - Source (literally quoted) and further detailed information: Information board on the hiking trail "360-Grad-Weg Göcklingen" at the large parking lot by the sports field

At the western entrance to the village of Göcklingen there are 2 sculptures that represent important identification figures of Göcklingen: a) Sculpture "Ur-Gockel": The Gockel is the village mascot of Göcklingen; in 1254 Göcklingen was mentioned for the 1st time in a document; excavations this year are of course made up... :-) b) The "Göcklinger Halseisen": "A silver neck iron on a blue background adorns the Göcklingen community coat of arms as a symbol of jurisdiction. According to this symbol, the sculptor Susanne Egle created this sculpture in 1994". (Literal text on the info board at the sculpture)

The Protestant church of Göcklingen is open to visitors during the day! (As of: Aug. 2026) "It was completed in the revolutionary year 1789 by the Reformed community, after the old church had to be demolished due to poor foundations. The richly structured roof turret was probably built by carpenters from the Allgäu region." Inside: baroque pulpit with the figure of the good shepherd; church windows with the motifs of Christmas/Good Friday/Easter. - Source (partially quoted verbatim) and further information: https://www.goecklingen.de/kopie-sehenswuerdigkeit-evkirche

Behind the church is the beautiful Laurentiusgarten, where, among other things, the Göcklinger Kerwe (a local festival) takes place. "The Catholic parish church of St. Laurentius was built in 1791 in the neoclassical style and is the third and largest church at this location. After lightning struck and set the tower on fire in 1896, a new tower was created as a landmark visible from afar. Striking in the church are the three altars. They come from a monastery in Weißenburg [without the lost, large altar paintings]. When the daughter of the Munich painter Professor Schraudolph married the Göcklingen estate owner Otto Reither, the hour of the new altar paintings arrived. In the middle, we see St. Laurentius, to the right St. Nepomuk, and to the left stands the Marian altar. The paintings were designed by Anneli Schraudolph's father and his brother between 1883 and 1885 and painted in the then-current Nazarene style. Both were busy with the decoration of Speyer Cathedral at the time. Otto Reither was a nephew of the Speyer Bishop Konrad Reither, who came from Göcklingen and was a close friend of the painter Schraudolph. Anneli and Otto Reither rest in the Göcklingen cemetery." Source (quoted verbatim) and further information: https://www.goecklingen.de/sehenswuerdigkeit-kathkirche

Always worth a visit!

Final stretch to Madenburg. A great spot for a break with a magnificent view.