Allmannshofen: Monastery, Pilgrimage and Circular Walk
Accommodation in Allmannshofen
Allmannshofen combines farmland with a history of pilgrimage, monastic culture and a signposted circular walk. The Zeit-auf-dem-HOLZenerWEG leads to sacred sites and back to the village through a sunken lane. When planning your stay, you can choose between walking the circular route, visiting historic sites and stopping by the Kneipp facility.
Farmland and Holzen Monastery
The area around Allmannshofen is mostly agricultural and forms part of the Augsburg Western Woods Nature Park. A prominent landmark in the area is Holzen Monastery: the complex stands on high ground above the Schmutter, and its two towers rise high above the Lech plain. Allmannshofen’s open farmland and highly visible monastery thus represent two distinct aspects of the village’s character.
The abbey church is also worth a look for its interior: it has a richly decorated Baroque interior and elaborate stucco work. Holzen Monastery was formerly a Benedictine convent. The Bavarian-Swabian Way of St. James reaches the former monastery near Allmannshofen via Mertingen, the destination of that stage. Holzen thus brings sacred architecture and the history of the pilgrimage route together, without implying any particular itinerary for the day.
The Zeit-auf-dem-HOLZenerWEG
The circular route is 4.3 kilometres long and links several sacred sites. The steps of the Stations of the Cross lead to the St. Moritz hermitage. The trail then follows the hillside through a sunken lane back to the village. On the return, it passes the Lourdes Grotto, the monastery garden and the Loreto Chapel. The route’s length gives you a concrete reference point for planning your day; the named sites also make clear that the trail is more than just a loop through the countryside.
The St. Moritz hermitage lies on the northern edge of Allmannshofen. For centuries, it was a pilgrimage destination, where a wooden statue of Saint Maurice was venerated. The present-day St. Moritz Church replaced the old chapel in 1710. Those interested in the history of this pilgrimage site will find a landmark here that is connected to the route of the HOLZenerWEG.
Kneipp Facility and Johannimarkt
Another option in the village centre is the Allmannshofen Kneipp facility. It is opposite the Kirchberghalle and offers water treading and a classic arm bath for all age groups. It provides a different way to spend your time in addition to the longer circular walk: here, the focus is on Kneipp treatments rather than the route through the countryside.
Holzen is also home to the long-standing Johannimarkt. Since 1856, its organisation has been in the hands of the municipality of Allmannshofen. This longstanding connection between the market and the municipality is part of local history and gives visitors to Holzen another cultural landmark alongside the monastery and pilgrimage sites.
Choose the focus of your stay
When looking for a holiday apartment in Allmannshofen, it may help to first consider what you would like your stay to focus on: the 4.3-kilometre circular walk and its sacred sites, the history of pilgrimage or the Baroque interior of the abbey church. The Kneipp facility and the traditional Johannimarkt add further local experiences to the options.
For the broader travel overview: Nordendorf.
