Rulamanweg

The Rulaman Trail aims to encourage reflection on the history and future of humanity. It was inspired by the youth book "Rulaman" by the Wittlingen naturalist David Friedrich Weinland.

Since its first edition in 1875, the youth novel "Rulaman" by David Friedrich Weinland has brought generations of young people into contact with the Stone Age and the people living at that time. Theodor Heuss, our first Federal President, once called it "the best German book for young people".The author Weinland lived in Hohenwittlingen and set his story about Rulaman and his clan in his home region. The Schiller Cave, known as the "Tulka Cave" in the novel, is located below Hohenwittlingen. And the Rulaman Trail runs right below the cave.

The Rulamanweg invites you to travel back in time. With each step of 500 meters, you move 1,000 years from the present towards our ancestors 500,000 years ago. Initially, this development took place very slowly and over unimaginably long periods of tens of thousands of years. Very gradually, with increasing growth, a slow compression and ever-increasing acceleration began, culminating in the concentrated density of the explosive developments of the present day.

Consciously experience how much time has passed since the Stone Age and the first Europeans such as Homo heidelbergensis, find out about life and customs and learn about the oldest works of art known to mankind. The panels at various stations will tell you interesting facts about inventive tool techniques, works of art from earlier millennia and thus about the culture from then until today.

At the beginning of the trail is a sculpture on the population explosion, followed by various stations with information boards.

Panel 1
The last 3000 years - rapid progress and developments in research, medicine, science and technology, in art, music, in spiritual and social systems on the one hand, devastating world wars, population explosion, global environmental destruction on the other: the limits of growth have been reached in many areas for the first time in human history

Panel 2 5000 years ago - time of sedentarization, agriculture, animal husbandry, division of labour, emergence of professions and state-like entities, wars over territories

Panel 3 approx. 20,000 years ago - Palaeolithic period and the oldest works of art known to mankind, found here in the caves of the Swabian Alb

Panel 4 up to 120,000 years ago - Neanderthals

Panel 5 up to 500,000 years ago - prehistoric man (Heidelberg and Steinheim man)

The Rulam Trail is a very short trail. Take the time to immerse yourself in other eras. At the end of the trail, at the -500,000 stone, it is worthwhile not to turn around, but to walk through the Wolfsschlucht gorge or via the Schillerhöhle (Rulamans Tulka cave) to the Hohenwittlingen castle ruins to enjoy the view of the Erms valley from there.

Tip 1
The novel Rulaman is still available today. Knödler Verlag Reutlingen last published the book in 2009.

Tip 2
"Back to the Stone Age - adventurous hike in the footsteps of the Stone Age hero Rulaman". Guided hike for children, young people and the young at heart by and with adventure educator Jasmin Spiegler

"We hike from Bad Urach train station along the Green Trail towards Hohenwittlingen and the Rulaman Trail. Various surprises await us along the way (e.g. the Erms river is crossed). Once we reach the Rulamanweg, we hike like the people of the Stone Age over pathless terrain and narrow, steep paths up to the Tulka Cave (Schiller Cave). From there, we continue to the ruins of Hohenwittlingen Castle with its breathtaking views."

The hike is suitable for families with children aged 8 and over who enjoy hiking. Maximum of 5 families or 20 participants possible. Minimum number of participants is 6 paying persons. The terrain is steep and requires a certain degree of surefootedness. Hiking boots and clothing suitable for the weather are required; a long-sleeved T-shirt or jacket is needed for the cave. You must bring your own snacks and drinks, helmets and headlamps for the cave are provided. Please remember to bring tick protection etc. We mainly walk in the forest and along meadows and streams. A barbecue fire can also be made by prior arrangement.The hike takes 3 to 5 hours, depending on the number of participants. The cost for children from 8 to 15 years is 10 euros per person, from 16 years the price is 15 euros per person. Children under 8 are free.

Jasmin Spiegler (qualified social pedagogue)
Experience and adventure education
Wittlinger Str. 2
72574 Bad Urach
Phone: 07125-2031
Telefax: 07125-2566
Mobile: 0170-9334855
Email: [email protected]
www.jasminspiegler.com