Aichach-Friedberg: Trails and Wittelsbach History

Hiking and cycling at your own pace

The Paartal Hiking Trail follows the middle reaches of the Paar from Aichach to Gut Schenkenau in the district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen and is 36.8 kilometres long in total. This makes it a long-distance route. If you would like to explore more than just this trail, the hiking brochure “Explore Aichach on Foot – The Most Beautiful Walks around Aichach” presents 15 walks and hiking trails in and around Aichach. This gives you a range of routes to choose from as you plan. As conditions can change, check the latest situation before setting out.

There is also plenty to choose from for cycling: the Aichach-Friedberg district cycling map features 14 well-signposted themed cycling routes. This can help guide your planning if you would rather choose a themed bike tour than a walk. Another connection between Aichach and Friedberg was established in 2020 for the Bavarian State Exhibition “City Liberated – Wittelsbach Founding Towns” as a sporty, environmentally friendly link between the two exhibition sites. It remains in place after the exhibition ended. Check the current signs and trail conditions before setting out.

Churches, castles and urban history

Different historical influences come together in Friedberg. The Herrgottsruh pilgrimage church was built between 1731 and 1753 and is considered one of the finest examples of Bavarian Rococo. The Wittelsbach Castle, by contrast, dates back to a high medieval castle built around 1257 under Duke Ludwig II the Strict. Comparing the two brings two different eras into focus: the 18th-century Rococo church and the castle’s medieval origins.

Aichach offers further points of interest for exploring cultural history. The Wittelsbach Museum is housed in the Lower Gate, while the Town Museum brings Aichach’s history to life. The historic old town has changed little over the centuries. Wittelsbach history is also present in several places: their ancestral castle stood in the Aichach district of Oberwittelsbach. Sisi Castle in Unterwittelsbach served Duke Max in Bavaria as a hunting lodge. These places tell different chapters of the story – from the early ancestral castle to the later use of a castle as a hunting lodge.

Pilgrimage, everyday life and regional produce

The pilgrimage museum in Inchenhofen focuses on the veneration of Saint Leonhard. The museum is housed in Haus St. Leonhard, a former Cistercian brewery building. Exhibits include iron and wax votive offerings, ploughshares, horseshoes, and neck and hand shackles. The exhibition documents the importance of Saint Leonhard and St. Leonhard Church as a much-visited pilgrimage destination. The Gruin House offers a different glimpse into the past: this listed building in the district of Aichach-Friedberg houses a museum illustrating the living and housing conditions of small-scale farmers in the late 19th century.

Regional food can also be part of your explorations. In the wider region, weekly markets in Wittelsbacher Land offer products such as fish, meat, pasta, cheese, fruit and vegetables. The selection can vary by market and season.

Whether you want to focus on trails, Wittelsbach history, pilgrimage or everyday culture, these interests can give your search for a holiday apartment a personal direction. Arrange your preferred destinations around your planned activities and check the details of specific routes before setting out.

Discover more places in Aichach-Friedberg

Schmiechen, Ried, Steindorf, Rehling, Pöttmes, Schiltberg, Petersdorf, Friedberg, Dasing, Kissing, Merching, Kühbach, Aichach, Affing, Aindling, Baar and Mering.

For the broader travel overview: Bavaria.