Chapel Circuit

The starting point is the Ammer Bridge in the west of Weilheim, where there is a parking lot near the Hochlandhalle. From here, cycle along Schützenstraße towards the city centre. After the railway and pedestrian bridge, a path with steps and a bike lane leads up on the left to Bahnhofsgasse. Just before the station, turn right and follow the signpost.

In front of the Apostles' Church, turn left into Krumpperstraße towards the cemetery. With the cemetery church St. Salvator and St. Sebastian, which originated in 1449 and was expanded in the 16th century by adding a sacristy and a tower, Weilheim possesses a unique testimony of medieval architecture. The ceiling paintings created by Elias Greither the Elder between 1591 and 1615 depict scenes from the Passion of Christ which, because a city pastor destroyed them out of misunderstanding in the 19th century, are now only partially preserved after being uncovered.

At the next but one intersection, turn left into Römerstraße. Now cycle for about 350 m on the historic section of the Brenner-Augsburg route from the Roman imperial era, before coming across Hardtkapellenstraße and Narbonner Ring onto Deutenhausener Straße. Here, keep left and follow the signage along the road through the wide Angerbachtal valley, which was formed by ice age meltwaters about 18,000 years ago, leading to Deutenhausen.

In the middle of the small village is the parish church, basically late medieval, with a charming onion dome tower visible from afar. Fine, colourful stucco tendrils cover the ceiling and frame the popular ceiling paintings.

A pavilion-style rococo high altar houses the image of grace of the Mother of God, created around 1527 by Hans Leinberger. Particularly interesting are the votive picture from 1733 in the choir showing the first depiction of a maypole in our region and the foldable confessional.

Afterwards, continue towards Marnbach. From here, the path gently rises into the Hardt landscape. On the left, the field chapel St. Michael can be seen. On the so-called Egerriederanger, the field chapel St. Michael was erected in 1717 on behalf of Caspar Steigenberger, who, as the steward of the Benediktbeuern monastery, supervised the natural contributions kept in the Marnbach tithe barn. The chapel was extended by a choir in 1900. It houses a small stucco marble altar from the late 18th century.

The Hardt landscape is the central part of the famous Eberfinger drumlin field. With 360 of these hills running roughly parallel north-south, it is not only the best known but also the largest drumlin field in the Bavarian Alpine foothills. It was formed during the last ice age by the shaping power of the glacier. The Hardt presents itself as a very varied landscape. The elongated drumlins (from the Irish droim = ridge) feature near-natural beech forests and dry grasslands; between them you will find moors, meadows with litter, and grasslands. This tight interconnection of landscape elements is probably unique nationwide. Therefore, large parts of the Hardt are nature or landscape protection areas.

Historically, the Hardt landscape was used in diverse ways. Its more remote parts were common property (commons). The name "Hardt" means nothing other than the right of common use by the Hardt inhabitants. This primarily included wood use, pig fattening, and forest grazing for cattle and horses. Peat was extracted from the raised bogs for heating (household fuel), and litter for animal stalls was collected from the low moor areas. These created so-called meadowlands, habitats for numerous rare plants and animal species.

We head towards Hardtwiese (farm). From here, continue on a gravelled but well passable path until you come to the paved Hardtstraße, which leads us to the Hardt chapel. On the right lies the Magnetsrieder Hardt nature reserve.

Within the Magnetsrieder Hardt are both low and raised moors. A special feature is Bavaria's second largest occurrence of the highly endangered marsh gladiolus with several thousand individuals (Gladiolus palustris, flowering period: mid-June to July). Other rare plant species belong, for example, to the orchid and gentian families. However, this unique drumlin landscape is in danger! Particularly between 1950 and 1980, numerous dry grassland and moor areas disappeared due to drainage, intensification, and afforestation with spruce or pine.

The Maria Hilf pilgrimage chapel originated from a pious legend. In the 13th century, the people of Weilheim and Haunshofen disputed over grazing rights in the Hardt and could reach no amicable agreement. During another heated negotiation, a little man appeared, placed his foot on a stone, and said: "As surely as I step on this stone, this is the Haunshofer community." Near the chapel is also a Way of the Cross with 14 stations from around 1870/1890. These consist of tuff stone with coloured clay reliefs and were donated by citizens from the local and wider area.

Then continue at brisk speed through the forest downhill into the Grünbachtal valley and then uphill again to Haunshofen. On the way to Wilzhofen, there is a beautiful view of the Grünbachtal valley, which also formed through ice age meltwaters. Passing under the railway bridge, you arrive in Wilzhofen.

Off the marked path, on a small hill, stands the church, basically late Gothic, rebuilt in 1631 and baroque remodeled around 1700. For a small refreshment, a detour to the guesthouse Guggenmos is worthwhile, reachable at the end of the village via Bahnhofsallee (closed Tuesdays).

After passing under the federal road, you reach Wielenbach - pay special attention to the signs here - and after crossing the Weilheim-Geltendorf railway line, to the Ammer river. Just before the bridge, on the left under mighty trees, is a wayside chapel. This was erected in 1871 replacing a predecessor building from 1688. Inside, above a simple altar, there is a painting of the Coronation of Mary. Cycle back along the Ammer dam to the starting point.