Königshofen: History, Trails and Traditions

Two details from 1830 stand out in the history of Königshofen: Königshofen Castle was built by the Barons of Koenig-Warthausen, designed by K. L. W. Zanth; the Königshofen estate was founded as a dairy estate in the same year. The shared date refers to two different events—the construction of the castle and the founding of the estate. Königshofen Castle is privately owned. If you are considering a visit, check access in advance.

Hiking and landscape

The Mettenberg Beaver Hiking Trail is a 14.9-kilometre circular route through the village of Mettenberg, with 160 metres of ascent. If you are planning a hike with children, take the route and ascent into account when assessing the day for yourself. This gives you two concrete details to help with planning, without drawing conclusions about how difficult the hike may be for you.

In the village of Mettenberg, the creation of small wooded areas, flower meadows, hedges and wetlands has provided new habitats for wildlife and plant life. For nature enthusiasts, these different habitat types show which elements play a role in shaping the landscape.

Pilgrimage and local traditions

In the village of Mettenberg, St. Alban’s Church is considered the oldest building in the village. Pilgrims can obtain a stamp for their pilgrim passport at St. Alban’s Church on the Way of St. James. The St. Alban’s family service team regularly leads the ecumenical harvest service at the Sichelhenke harvest festival. Local architecture, pilgrimage traditions and religious customs thus come together.

The Stork Forest campaign takes place every year in the village of Mettenberg. Parents are welcome to plant a tree for their newborns. Linking a family milestone with tree planting gives the tradition a personal touch. For families interested in local customs, it is a striking example of how a community welcomes new life.

A photograph of a waymarker from 2011 shows the Upper Swabian Way of St. James marked near the Königshofen farmstead. If you are planning a hike today, it is advisable to check the current route. The photograph records a specific trail marker at that time, but is no substitute for current planning.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to have a clear focus: hiking and pilgrimage offer a different kind of trip from architectural history and local customs. Match the accommodation’s exact location to the places and activities you actually plan to visit.

Biberach an der Riß: Culture and cycling routes

The wider destination of Biberach an der Riß also offers its own cultural and cycling attractions. The Biberach Museum is housed in the Hospital of the Holy Spirit; its collections cover natural history, archaeology, history and art. The museum also contains the original studios of Munich animal painters Anton Braith and Christian Mali. Around Holzmarkt Square are the late Gothic salt storehouse, built in 1513; the Baroque Dinglinger House, which belonged to a well-known Biberach goldsmith; and the former patrician residence, Strölin House, dating from 1590.

The Gigelberg and Schillerhöhe hills offer views across Biberach. In the surrounding area, quiet moors, wide meadows and gentle forests provide the setting for 14 cycling routes, ranging from sporty to family-friendly. Biberach lies directly on the Danube–Lake Constance Cycle Route, which connects Ulm with Lake Constance, and on the German Timber-Frame Road’s themed cycle route, which is around 1,000 kilometres long.

Discover more destinations: Kanzach, Moosburg, Wain, Oggelshausen, Rot An Der Rot, Kirchberg An Der Iller, Bad Schussenried, Hochdorf.

View the wider travel overview: Biberach.