The third stage begins with the ascent from Oettingen to the Rossfeld, which has a richly structured man-made landscape. Fields and meadows alternate with heaths grazed by flocks of sheep, traditional meadow-orchards woods, field margins and hedgerows. Here you pass a station of the Franconian Moststraße (Must Road, “Must” meaning a traditional fruit wine). Again and again, grand panoramic views open up into the Wörnitz valley. Outside of Ehingen the trail leads past a multidenominational fortified church, which is used as a Catholic and Protestant parish church. The path leads through agricultural fields to the Antonius Chapel with peace cross and a lovely view. The burial-mound field Heide near Hochaltingen bears witness to the middle Hallstatt period, when the custom of burial within a chamber under an earthen mound was widespread. Passing the Weidenkapelle (chapel), you reach Fremdingen and further to the Ölberg Chapel idyllically situated at the edge of the woods. The third stage ends in Raustetten.
Oettingen – Home to a noble residence and storks:
In recent years Oettingen has become a real “stork town”—in 2021 there were 29 occupied nests. Storks find a rich food supply nearby: The meadows along the Wörnitz and the expressly created ponds are particularly important habitats for their prey such as mice, frogs, small fish and insects. Storks have nested in Oettingen for more than 400 years. Count Ludwig, who was a friend to storks, had to leave the town after the Schmalkaldic War (1546-47). According to legend, the storks also moved away and only returned when the Count came back home in 1563.