Klippeneck

Klippeneck sits on the edge of the Großer Heuberg plateau in Baden-Württemberg. The land rises gently to meet the sky, with wide views over the Swabian Alb. A gliding airfield marks the spot, where planes take off and circle above the treetops. Below, the land falls away into valleys cut deep by ancient rivers. The soil here is thin and stony, covered with heather and juniper. The wind often blows strong across the open ground.

The Dreifaltigkeitsberg, or Holy Trinity Hill, stands a few kilometres south. Its summit reaches 985 metres, the highest point in the area. A pilgrimage church crowns the hill, built in the 18th century to honour the Holy Trinity. Pilgrims have climbed these slopes for centuries, leaving behind small stone markers along the path. The route follows part of the Donauberglandweg, a long-distance trail that winds through forests and meadows.

The path to the church is well marked and easy to follow. It passes through beech woods where the light filters through the leaves. Heather blooms in late summer, turning the hills purple. From the churchyard wall, walkers look out over the Danube valley far below. The wind carries the sound of church bells on Sunday mornings. The air smells of pine and damp earth after rain.