Maselheim: Way of St. James, Monastic History and the Öchsle Railway

The Way of St. James and the churches

The Way of St. James passes through Äpfingen and Laupertshausen. Its route is also shown within the municipality of Maselheim on the map extracts. This gives the route a direct connection to pilgrimage, while the churches in the two villages offer different historical and artistic details. Those interested in the Way of St. James will also find traces of the patron saint of pilgrims in Laupertshausen’s parish church: five panels depicting stories and legends about him can be seen in the organ gallery.

The parish church in Laupertshausen is dedicated to Saint James and Saint Pelagius. Its furnishings date from the High Baroque, while the tower dates back to the Late Gothic period. The building thus brings together features from different periods in art history. The five paintings in the organ gallery add stories about the patron saint of pilgrims to this impression.

In Heggbach, the former Cistercian convent was established in the mid-13th century from a community of Benedictine nuns. The former abbey church of St. Mary and St. George is a long hall church with a three-sided choir and a nuns’ gallery. The term “hall church” itself describes a different type of building from a church with several aisles; the three-sided choir and gallery are further distinctive features of its interior. In Heggbach, cultural activities in painting and design, music and theatre have a long tradition.

The parish churches in Äpfingen and Sulmingen also offer different points of interest for those interested in cultural history. St. Blasius in Äpfingen was built in 1726 and has a Late Gothic tower. Inside are a chalice-shaped baptismal font and a Baroque crucifix; Baroque ceiling stucco also characterises the furnishings. The parish church of St. Dionys in Sulmingen, meanwhile, has a late medieval roof structure over the nave and choir, built in two stages. These architectural and decorative features give culture enthusiasts a range of subjects to look out for on a trip through Maselheim.

The Öchsle Railway, outdoor activities and local transport

The Öchsle Museum Narrow-Gauge Railway reaches Maselheim via Äpfingen and Sulmingen. Its 19-kilometre route runs from Warthausen to Ochsenhausen. This is separate from the well-maintained path along the Öchsle railway line, which is suitable for walking and cycling. If you enjoy getting around on foot or by bike, you can include this route in your holiday plans; an interest in railways and outdoor exercise offer two different ways to explore the railway line.

The local transport network is also relevant when planning your journey: Maselheim lies within the Donau-Iller local transport network, DING. DING offers an integrated local transport service combining buses, trams and trains, as well as a unified fare system across state borders.

Bathing area in Ellmannsweiler

For swimming, Ellmannsweiler has a public bathing area that is ready for the swimming season. This provides an option for bathing alongside the pilgrimage route, churches and railway line. When planning your holiday, you can weigh up which of these interests will be the deciding factor for your trip and use it to guide your search for a holiday apartment in Maselheim.

More places to consider for your trip: Bad Schussenried, Gutenzell-Hürbel, Königshofen, Betzenweiler, Ummendorf, Dettingen An Der Iller, Eberhardzell and Schemmerhofen.

For the wider travel overview: Biberach.