Sonthofen between Culture and Nature

Spa Park and Calvary Hill

The ecological spa park extends around the summit of Calvary Hill and along the foot of the hill by Götzfried's Pond. Ponds, wetlands, flower-rich extensively managed meadows, trees and woody vegetation give the grounds their varied character. Walking paths and benches offer different ways to spend time surrounded by greenery. If you are looking for a quieter part of your holiday, you can keep the park in mind as a destination for a walk or a break.

Some of the stations on the Alpenstadt Adventure Trail are located on Calvary Hill. The trail connects the urban area with an alpine nature reserve and consists of three interconnected sections that can also be explored independently. Play and adventure features, along with a children's section on the information boards, add to what the trail offers. This allows families to choose a section that suits their different interests without having to treat all the sections as a single tour.

Culture, Collections and Sonthofen Traditions

Sonthofen's KulturViertel brings together the AlpenStadtMuseum, StadtHausGalerie and StadtBibliothek, offering a diverse cultural programme in historic buildings. The venues are all within walking distance of one another. So if you would like to visit several cultural attractions during your stay, this part of Sonthofen makes a convenient shared focus.

The AlpenStadtMuseum houses Sonthofen's local history collection in an old farmhouse dating from the 18th century; the collection has been based there since 1930. Another collection is devoted to an unusual subject: the private Umbrella Museum displays umbrellas dating from 1840 to the present day. Together with the offerings of the KulturViertel, these collections offer different reasons to explore history and everyday culture.

The Catholic parish church of St. Michael is also part of Sonthofen's oldest town centre and lies at the foot of Calvary Hill. The Egga-Spiel, an old carnival custom with pre-Christian origins, is a distinctive part of local tradition. The Sonthofen Local Heritage Association revived it in 1955; since then, it has taken place in Sonthofen every three years on Carnival Sunday. If you are interested in traditions, this regular event is a distinctive part of local culture.

Nature Experiences for Different Holiday Days

At Biberhof, the holiday adventure weeks focus on nature experiences for children aged 6 to 12. Activities include building bridges and shelters, whittling, cooking over an open fire and making jewellery. Biberhof also has benches, barbecue areas and play areas where visitors can relax and play. The mix of active pursuits and breaks outdoors can be a helpful consideration for families planning their holiday days.

Another option for a day of swimming and play is the Altstädten Leisure Complex. Covering 12,000 m², it includes a natural swimming area, sunbathing and open spaces, and a multi-purpose sports pitch; there is also a kiosk on site. If you would like to combine these activities with culture or hiking, you can plan each holiday day around different priorities.

Sonthofen's southernmost districts are starting points for hikes, including routes to the Hinang Waterfalls. If you enjoy exploring on foot, hiking opportunities may be a factor when choosing the right place to stay in Sonthofen. For journeys around the town, the town provides free loan bikes with shopping baskets at the Radl-Bahnhof, right by the town hall. Sonthofen residents and holidaymakers with the Allgäu-Walser-Card issued by the Alpsee-Grünten holiday region can borrow them.

More destinations to explore for your holiday: Hörnergruppe, Oberstaufen, Waltenhofen, Bad Hindelang, Bolsterlang, Altusried, Oberstdorf, Buchenberg.

See the full travel overview: Oberallgäu.