Restaurant Goldener Ochsen Goeppingen-Hohenstaufen

Restaurant in Goeppingen-Hohenstaufen:

Our small family-run Restaurant Goldener Ochsen, part of the Hotel Goldener Ochsen, was first documented in 1785 and is located in the Goeppingen district of Hohenstaufen at the foot of the mountain of the same name – the gateway to the Swabian Alb, around 7 km from Goeppingen and 15 km from Schwaebisch Gmuend.

Our regional, home-style cuisine has been known beyond the immediate area for many years.

At the foot of the Hohenstaufen, the Goldener Ochsen is conveniently located for stays in Goeppingen-Hohenstaufen and excursions in the surrounding area.

Current restaurant status:

Whether you stop in after a walk or use Hohenstaufen as a starting point for an excursion, Restaurant Goldener Ochsen stands for tradition, regional cuisine and genuine hospitality.

Walks to the Hohenstaufen, one of the Drei Kaiserberge, and excursions to the nearby Swabian Alb are especially common among visitors to the area.

The view from Mount Hohenstaufen reaches out towards the Fils valley and the Rems valley.

Around the village there are numerous cycling and walking routes in the area of the three Kaiserberge: Hohenstaufen, Stuifen and Hohenrechberg.

Stuttgart (about 53 km away) and Ulm (about 55 km away) can also be reached from our hotel.

Notes for our guests:

Dogs in the restaurant: Dogs may be brought into our dining room. Important distinction: pets are not allowed in our hotel rooms.

Smoke-free restaurant: Our restaurant is smoke-free. For smoking, please use the area outside the entrance; there is an ashtray on the wall.

Later in the evening, we kindly ask guests outside the door to be considerate of our neighbours.

History of the Goldener Ochsen:

Restaurant Goldener Ochsen in Goeppingen-Hohenstaufen looks back on more than 240 years of history and is therefore one of the older establishments in the region.

As early as 1785, the “Ochsen” was first documented as an inn with butchery and agriculture.

At that time, the property included not only its own well, cattle sheds and a barn, but also woods and fields that supplied the house with its own products.

Slaughtering, sausage production and direct sales already took place at the Ochsen in earlier times. The offer was supplemented by milk and homemade butter from the house’s own cows, homemade bread, an in-house distillery for spirits, and homemade cider pressed from the property’s orchards.

The in-house farming operation was discontinued in 1960; woodland, meadows and fields were then leased out or sold.

From an early stage, the house also served as an important lodging place: coachmen and travellers found food and overnight accommodation here.

The Ochsen also left traces in literature: Wilhelm Raabe mentioned the house in 1873 in his novel Christoph Pechlin – a sign of the role the inn played in the history of Goeppingen-Hohenstaufen.

Practical starting point for walks and excursions:

Our hotel is a practical starting point for guests who want to explore the summit of the Hohenstaufen.

From the centre of Hohenstaufen and from the streets around the hotel, the route up the mountain can be reached on foot. Depending on the chosen route and pace, the ascent to the summit usually takes around 30 minutes.

At the top, visitors find a wide panoramic view over the Fils and Rems valleys. Mount Hohenstaufen, a distinctive witness mountain with a height of 684 metres, forms together with Stuifen and Rechberg the westernmost part of the three Kaiserberge between the Rems valley in the north and the Fils valley in the south.

The name “Staufen” has its origin in the old term “Stauf”, which describes a pointed, cone-shaped mountain.

Sights in the surrounding area:

The Drei Kaiserberge – overview

Many guests combine their stay with tours to the Drei Kaiserberge. Here is a short orientation (distances approximate, depending on route):

• Hohenstaufen – 684 m (in the village area)
• Rechberg – 707 m (about 8 km)
• Stuifen – 757 m (about 14 km)

Hohenstaufen castle ruins:

The Hohenstaufen castle ruins, once the ancestral castle of the powerful Staufer dynasty, stand on the distinctive Hohenstaufen mountain in the heart of the Stauferland region.

Today only wall remains of the former hilltop castle have survived, but they still offer an insight into regional and medieval history.

Built around 1070 by Duke Frederick I of Swabia, the castle was an important centre of medieval power and politics.

Spielburg nature reserve:

The Spielburg, a distinctive rock formation on the south-western slope of the Hohenstaufen, is part of a protected nature reserve in Goeppingen.

It is notable for its geological history and views over the surrounding valleys and landscapes.

With its flora and fauna, the Spielburg is a popular destination for walkers and nature visitors.

The dry biotope “Naturschutzgebiet Spielburg” belongs to the Hohenstaufen district and is a well-known local recreation area.

A special route is the walk along the Loewenpfad Spielburg-Runde, a route of about 3.5 kilometres that connects the Spielburg with Goeppingen’s local mountain.

This certified tour is suitable for families and for visitors who want to experience nature at a moderate pace.

Waescherburg:

The Waescherburg (also called Waescherschloss or Waescherschloessle) in Waescherhof, a district of Waeschenbeuren, was built between 1220 and 1250.

At 436 metres above the Beutental valley, the hilltop castle offers a view towards Hohenstaufen and is a worthwhile excursion destination in the Swabian Alb area.

Lorch Monastery:

Lorch Monastery stands on a ridge in the Rems valley, between Stuttgart and Aalen.

The extensive site with its characteristic ring wall bears witness to the heritage of the Staufer family.

The surrounding area offers many options for walking and cycling tours.

The region is also suitable for multi-day tours and extended nature excursions.

Rechberg and pilgrimage church:

Rechberg is the middle of the distinctive Drei Kaiserberge and a popular destination for walkers and visitors interested in the history of the Swabian Alb.

On its summit plateau are the ruins of Hohenrechberg Castle and the widely visible Baroque pilgrimage church “Zur Hohen Muttergottes”.

The combination of landscape, medieval castle remains and church architecture makes Rechberg a varied excursion destination.

Mount Stuifen – the natural Kaiserberg:

Stuifen completes the group of the Drei Kaiserberge together with Hohenstaufen and Rechberg. At 757 metres, it is the highest of the three elevations.

Unlike its neighbouring mountains, Stuifen does not have a ruin or church on its summit; it is characterised by woodland and an open summit plateau with a large wooden cross.

A circular route at the foot of the mountain and the ascent to the summit offer a nature-focused tour away from the most frequently visited tourist spots.

Loewenpfade – premium walking routes in the Stauferland region:

For committed walkers, the district of Goeppingen offers the “Loewenpfade”. These premium walking routes certified by the German Hiking Association are designed as quality circular routes.

Across 16 varied circular tours, visitors can discover valleys, distinctive rocks and historical ruins of the Swabian Alb. One of these routes, the “Spielburg-Runde”, starts very close to Hohenstaufen.

Filseck Castle:

The Renaissance Filseck Castle in Uhingen stands above the Fils valley and is an excursion destination for visitors interested in culture and landscape.

After careful restoration, the castle now hosts changing art exhibitions, an information centre on Staufer history and gastronomy.

The adjoining landscape park offers paths, gardens and views for a walk.

Maerklineum – the world of model railways:

Goeppingen is home to the internationally known model railway manufacturer Maerklin. At the Maerklineum, visitors can learn about more than 160 years of company history.

The museum includes interactive exhibitions, historic tin toys and a large model railway layout with many details.

For families, technology fans and rainy-day excursions, the Maerklineum can be a suitable destination during a stay in the region.