Romantic Tour

The Romantic Tour leads directly from Schongau train station towards Peiting. It follows the bike path parallel to the road across the Lech bridge and after a gentle three-kilometer climb reaches the market town. The route goes relatively straight south through the town. After leaving the town, it continues on the bike path alongside the road until the path diverges and leads a good distance uphill through a forest. At the top, the path winds over hilly meadows, past a secluded house, and through a small woodland downhill again. There, the path reconnects with the road and accompanies it for a few kilometers until the bike path passes under the road and leads away from noise across wide meadows to the former monastery town of Rottenbuch. In Rottenbuch, the magnificent former monastery church of Mary’s Nativity invites you to visit. Over 900 years old, it harmoniously combines the art periods of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque in a three-aisled church with a transept. A special feature is the depiction of the life of St. Augustine in the nave, who was a role model for the Augustinian canons.

From Rottenbuch to the Wieskirche

The journey continues southwards through a residential area of Rottenbuch, gently and steadily uphill out of the town, where gently rolling meadows adjoin the houses. From here on, the rest of the tour runs away from busy roads and reveals its true character – pure peace and idyll. Romantic viewpoints invite you again and again to pause and enjoy. The path continues gently uphill and passes the Schönegger cheese alpine hut, recommended for a break. Refreshed and always with the Alpine panorama in sight, the path now goes downhill past the idyllic Schwaigsee lake, through the small Bavarian village of Morgenbach, and after a gentle climb across a meadow-covered, gently rolling plain. Here, you can hardly stop marveling – the beauty of nature with the magnificent Alpine panorama on the near horizon is deeply moving. This pleasure continues even after passing through the village of Wildsteig. If you like visiting Lourdes grottos, a stop at the magnificent grotto below the church is worthwhile here. The route continues down into a hollow, through moorland, and up again – gently uphill and slightly winding – until suddenly behind a hill the church tower of the Wieskirche becomes visible. The next stage destination is in sight. Only a few meters remain until the UNESCO World Heritage Site "To the Scourged Savior in the Meadow" – splendidly set amid meadows. Dense forests and the Trauchgau mountains frame it romantically. The Wieskirche is the Rococo jewel in the Pfaffenwinkel. The final masterpiece of architect Dominikus Zimmermann. A place of power worth visiting. If you want a little culinary refreshment, two inns offer themselves. Tip: the Wieskiachla "To Go" if there is not enough time to stop and dine.

From the Wieskirche to Steingaden

After visiting the energizing Wieskirche, continue north on the access road. After one kilometer, the bike path turns left into a romantically grown forest, gently downhill, then across a meadow with an idyllic hamlet. Now it gets lively. First downhill through a hollow, then with approximately the same incline uphill again, past a forest, up to a plain that offers views to the left of a magnificent Alpine panorama and to the right of an idyllic bathing pond that perhaps invites a little refreshment. The ride continues downhill through a small wood, past an avenue, and into the charming town of Steingaden, whose townscape is dominated by the lofty twin towers of the Welfenmünster and the partly preserved facilities of the former Premonstratensian monastery. A small town tour is highly recommended here. The town center of Steingaden is incredibly photogenic; the Welfenmünster is magnificent. The still partly preserved cloister tells of times gone by, and the lovingly laid out herb garden of the former monastery pharmacy is a place for all senses and offers heavenly peace.

From Steingaden to Schongau

From here, head back north. The wide asphalted path leads relaxedly through gently rolling meadows, repeatedly through small woods and past small lakes until it finally reaches the last forest of the tour. Through it goes to the Lech reservoir lake, which is crossed via the Lech dam step. From here, a detour to the Schongau Lido is worthwhile, with dining possible in the boathouse and the Lech raft, which is launched in mid-summer and awaits its guests. The journey continues to the elevated historic old town surrounded by medieval city walls. The town center offers beautiful corners and nooks that can be explored even more intensely, for example, with the Auidguide or a guided tour. As a final highlight, parts of the city wall’s walkway can be walked. The tour then returns to the starting point.