Aitrang: Church Art and the Legendary Trail
Accommodation in Aitrang
Aitrang has two distinct facets: the parish church of St. Ulrich brings together several periods of architecture and art, while the Aitrang route of the Legendary Trail features the town as both the starting and finishing point of a themed loop. If you are weighing up sacred art and a narrative route for your holiday, these highlights offer a concrete guide for planning your trip.
St. Ulrich: Building Phases and Works of Art
The Catholic parish church of St. Ulrich is located at Lindenstraße 42 in Aitrang. Its choir dates from around 1466 and was raised in 1683/84. The nave was rebuilt in 1867/68. Thus, a late medieval building element and later alterations belong to different chapters in the church’s history.
The works of art also mark distinct periods: the nave contains a large fresco by Ludwig Magnus Hotter from 1956. The side walls feature wooden reliefs created in 1973, depicting scenes from the lives of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary. The building’s history, fresco and reliefs make St. Ulrich a well-defined point of interest for anyone interested in sacred architecture and art while travelling.
Churches in the Aitrang Community
Other listed churches and chapels are located in places within the municipality. The pilgrimage church of St. Alban is at Görwangs 14, 87648 Aitrang. It is a hall church with a recessed choir and a three-sided apse. It was built from 1697 to 1701, probably incorporating parts of the choir walls of an earlier building dating from 1510. The gable turret was renovated in 1896. Its building history therefore combines a clearly dated construction phase with an older predecessor whose existence is only presumed.
The listed Catholic Chapel of St. Magnus stands in Neuenried. It was built in 1694, and its roof structure was renovated in 1861. The listed Catholic Chapel of St. Rosina in Wenglingen was built after 1700. Together, these buildings illustrate different stages in the history of sacred architecture within the municipality. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between the parish church in Aitrang and other churches in the municipality’s other localities.
The Aitrang Route of the Legendary Trail
The Aitrang route of the Legendary Trail starts and ends in Aitrang. It passes through Krähberg, Görwangs, Münzenried, Huttenwang and Wenglingen. Around 96 percent of the route is asphalt, and around 4 percent consists of gravelled farm and forest tracks. If you are planning to do the loop, check the current trail conditions before setting out.
Along the route, legends and lore of the Ostallgäu are presented through information boards, texts and life-size legendary figures. The network, which comprises four routes, also lists playgrounds and rest areas as family-friendly excursion features. These are part of the four-route network; the Aitrang loop itself offers a distinct thematic approach through its route and legendary motifs. This lets you consider church culture and a story-themed tour as different highlights of a trip.
The Wider Ostallgäu Region
Those who also consider the Ostallgäu as a broader travel destination will find further ways to tailor their trip to their interests. The Ostallgäu Cycling Travel Region comprises regional routes that extend throughout the Ostallgäu. They are each 25 to 76 kilometres long, fully signposted and have their own themes. In addition, there are 32 local hiking routes showcasing special treasures in nature and in the localities.
The Forggensee also offers a different kind of excursion in the Ostallgäu: the Forggensee Cycle Route circles the lake, and Forggensee boat trips run regularly during the summer season. Your plans can therefore include a range of themes—the legendary route in Aitrang and other regional cycling, hiking and lakeside activities in the Ostallgäu. If you are interested in a boat trip, check the current timetable.
Discover more destinations: Apfeltrang, Bidingen, Ruderatshofen.
Go to the overview of destinations: Biessenhofen.
