Hikes in Mering

Cool water hike directly along the river, through shady forest passages and past three lakes!

The diverse excursion destination Mandichosee has a lot to offer: hiking, swimming, water sports – all in one place.

First: we did this hike in winter with snow, but we recommend doing it when it is snow-free, as the paths in the Kissinger Heide area are hardly recognizable without constant GPS tracking.

Circular route through the Königsbrunner Heide along Mandichosee and the Lech and back via Kissinger Heide / Königsbrunner Heide

Prehistoric Traces and Burgstall Chapel Kissing – possibly with Alpine PanoramaThe Burgstall Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother of God in Kissing stands, as the name suggests, on the site of a former castle, where probably in the 11th/12th century the local noble family of the Lords of Kissing resided. After their disappearance, the ruins were torn down. From 1681 onwards, the Augsburg Jesuits, who acquired the Kissinger Hofmark in 1602 and promoted Marian devotion intensively, had the Baroque chapel built. Soon, a very lively pilgrimage developed. The hill is artificially sculpted out of the Lech terrace, protected on the west by the natural steep slope, on the other sides by ditches. On the forecourt and separated by a neck ditch, where once the forecastle stood, there is today a 1907 established Way of the Cross with cast iron plaques.

​This hike is unusual. It begins at the Mering-St. Afra 1 stop on the busy Munich–Augsburg rail line. As a hiking destination, this industrial area seems rather unappealing. It’s hard to believe that just a few kilometers away lies one of the most valuable nature reserves in the Augsburg area. Thoughtful hikers who see themselves as conservationists are welcome to explore the Kissinger Heide along narrow trails. But this excursion offers much more. So, let’s take it step by step. We start at the southeastern end of the large Park-and-Ride lot and turn right onto the sidewalk along Friedenaustraße—this is the access road to the parking lot that runs parallel to the federal highway. At the yield sign near the gray factory building labeled “Gewerbepark Mering,” we turn left and, after a few steps, right onto the bike and walking path next to the state road. There, a wayside cross stands near five trees, and this is where our Gravel Trail 2 begins; we follow it through fields and meadows, first heading northwest and then north.   Where a path joins from the left, we keep to the right. A little more than 1.7 km from the state road, we reach the memorial stone for the Gunzenle 3 near the high-voltage power pole. Gunzenle was a historically significant and legendary gathering place of the German Empire on the border between Bavaria and Swabia. As early as the Middle High German heroic epic “Biterolf and Dietleib,” the Gunzenle is mentioned as a camp and gathering place for the Huns. Near the presumed prehistoric burial mound, the Battle of Lechfeld took place in 955, in which the imperial army defeated the Hungarians. On May 29, 1127, the historically significant wedding between Duke Henry the Proud of Bavaria and Gertrud of Saxony was celebrated on the Gunzenle. Even Charlemagne is said to have used the Gunzenle as a resting place on several occasions. North of the memorial stone, we come across a sign pointing to the legendary pear tree, which is said to have been planted at this spot after the Battle of Lechfeld. A young descendant of that tree is now growing here. At the wayside cross behind the wooden hut, we turn left, cross a bridge, and continue straight ahead at the sign for “Wanderschäferei am Lech.” This brings us to the shore of the beautiful Weitmannsee, which we follow northward to the Seestern 4 restaurant (Italian cuisine, open daily except Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.). New views of the natural lake open up time and again, and there are several places to rest. The best spot for swimming is the beach near the Seestern Restaurant—in many other places, the lake is too shallow. Tip for families: There’s a children’s playground at the restaurant. From the restaurant, we stroll toward the beach volleyball court. Behind it, we turn right at the “fitness trail” through the small wooded area and walk along a wide gravel path toward some signs. Pay special attention to the “Nature Reserve” sign: From this point on, you must not leave the trails, pick flowers, or disturb animals in their habitat. Please be quiet and considerate! tWe walk up to the Lech flood control dam and to Weir 5. On the other side of the river is the northeasternmost point of Tour 22 (Waypoint 14 there), or

First past Mering into the Meringer Au at the Lech and to the Auensee.

Eine entspannende Feierabendrunde - ob alleine, zu Zweit oder mit dem Hund.  Im Sommer lädt der See zur Erfrischung ein. Im Winter wenn er zugefroren ist kann man toll auf dem Eis spazieren. Leider gibt es auf der Westseite und im Süden keine Bänke zum Relaxen und es ist gerade am Wochenende sehr viel los.

Wanderung durch die Lechauen zum Weitmannsee, zurück entlang des Lechs.