The fifth stage of the Ries Panorama Trail leads through the Kirchheim Klostergarten (monastery garden) with insect hotel and fruit trees to the Klosterweiher (pond), where several beavers have claimed territory. Continue over the Reimersbergle hill to the Langenberg, where you walk along the slope with a beautiful view over the Ries. On the Goldberg hill, you can again enjoy the magnificent view before crossing the Goldbach and hiking over another ridge to Trochtelfingen. On an ascending path, you reach Unteren Röhrbachmühle and then follow the signs across the heath of the Kapf nature reserve, where rare plants thrive in the woods and on dry grasslands. Enjoy wide views from the ridge between the Eger and Röhrbach valleys, before passing the idyllic, green, park-like location of the Josefskapelle to reach the stage destination, Utzmemmingen
Klosterkirche Kirchheim am Ries – Vital quarters for endangered bats:
The roof of the Kirchheim monastery church provides essential living quarters for endangered species of bats such as the serotine bat. Here they have their nursery, where the females give birth to and raise their young. They find their food, which consists exclusively of insects, on the species-rich dry grasslands growing on the limestone of the surrounding Blasienberg, Goldberg and Ipf nature preservation areas.