Discover Obermarchtal

Monastery complex, Danube and village church

Obermarchtal Monastery is considered the only architecturally self-contained, complete and fully preserved Baroque monastery complex in Upper Swabia. It took its present form between 1686 and 1795. Its location directly above the Danube is as much a part of its character as its unified Baroque architecture. On a guided tour of the monastery, visitors can climb the 68-metre-high twin towers; this is only possible with a guide. Check the current visitor arrangements before your visit if you plan to climb the towers.

The village church of St. Urban also combines visible works of art with its role in the community: parts of a late Gothic fresco cycle have been preserved in the choir and nave. The church serves as a cemetery chapel and as the parish’s weekday church. For those interested in art history, it offers another religious and historical aspect of Obermarchtal alongside the monastery complex.

Local history and Fasnet tradition

The Marchtal Museum presents the history and culture of the town from the Middle Ages through the Baroque period to the present day. This also includes the era of the Princes of Thurn and Taxis in the 19th and 20th centuries. During your stay, this offers a historical perspective that extends beyond the Baroque monastery complex and encompasses different chapters in the town’s history.

Fasnet is another expression of living culture, with a long tradition in Obermarchtal. The Obermarchtal Carnival Guild celebrates Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet with historic masks. In Obermarchtal, the history of the monastery complex and the town thus meets a regional tradition that continues to this day. If culture is an important part of your trip, you can take these themes into account when choosing where to stay and how to plan your days.

Nature Adventure Trail, cycle route and canoeing

The well-signposted Nature Adventure Trail is 3.5 kilometres long. Information boards and activity stations share insights into nature, history and legends. The route combines exercise with a range of topics; check local information for current access conditions before your visit. The Nature Adventure Trail is a way to explore the landscape and stories of the area—whether or not architectural history or culture takes centre stage elsewhere in your trip.

There is a place to launch and land canoes at the weir in Obermarchtal. If you are planning a paddling trip, check the applicable waterway regulations and conditions beforehand. The Danube Cycle Path is also listed as a tourist attraction in Obermarchtal. This gives you different activity options: a signposted route with information boards, cycling and the opportunity to canoe at the weir. When looking for a holiday apartment, consider which of these interests will shape your trip most.

Obermarchtal in the Alb-Donau district

The wider travel destination of the Alb-Donau district offers further cultural and natural highlights that add to the picture of the region. Hohle Fels near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the discovery site of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Geierknochenflöte” (vulture-bone flute); both finds are around 42,500 years old. The Alb-Donau district is also part of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. These regional themes provide a wider context for your trip and are not features of Obermarchtal itself.

Discover more destinations: Dietenheim, Blaustein, Langenau, Nerenstetten, Börslingen, Asselfingen, Munderkingen, Staig.

Go to the wider travel overview: Alb-Donau district.