Two small rivers, the
Brigach and the
Breg at the eastern border of the
Black Forest unite at
Donaueschingen to form the
Danube. The Danube passes through the Upper Danube Nature Park between
Immendingen 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" or
Danube Sinkhole) in
Immendingen 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. The Danube valley railroad from Donaueschingen to
Ulm 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
Schmeie (or
Schmiecha) and the
Lauchert. == Gallery==