Lochen, Mountain summit in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Lochen is a mountain summit in Baden-Württemberg reaching about 964 meters elevation and featuring two distinct peaks. The Lochenstein forms the main high point, while the eastern Lochenhörnle at nearly 953 meters creates a second prominent rise.

The plateau was the site of prehistoric hilltop settlements, with finds dating from the Neolithic and Middle Bronze Age. Settlement peaked in the Late Bronze Age (Urnfield culture, 10th/9th century BC) and again in the Early Iron Age (Hallstatt culture, 7th/6th century BC) and the La Tène period around 300 BC; occupation ended around 400 BC. Oscar Fraas excavated in 1830, Gerhard Bersu and Peter Goessler in 1923, and Martin Bartelheim and Marc Heise uncovered a natural sanctuary on the Lochenstein in 2024.

The Lochenstein's summit cross stands on an exposed rock outcrop, a custom otherwise rare on Swabian Jura peaks and more at home in the Alps. The Schwäbische Albverein maintains the Lochenhütte shelter on the eastern plateau; it is normally locked, and the key can be borrowed. The Beuroner Jakobsweg pilgrimage route also crosses the Lochen.

A steep path from Gründle at Lochenpass leads to the summit and takes about 20 minutes to cover roughly 100 meters of elevation gain. The climb is doable for regular hikers, though checking local conditions and wearing solid footwear is always a good idea.

Iron ore mining tunnels near Hossingen extracted deposits with notably low sulfur and phosphorus content. These mineral reserves made the area economically important in earlier periods.