Stiefenhofen: Herb Trails, Chapels and Cross-Country Ski Trails
Accommodation in Stiefenhofen
The holiday resort of Stiefenhofen in the Allgäu lies in front of the Nagelfluh mountain range, between 750 and 1,117 metres above sea level, at the start of the ascent from Lake Constance. The municipality offers a variety of reasons to visit, from signposted circular hiking trails and an herb garden to chapels, cross-country ski trails and recurring festivals. Depending on when you travel, you can plan your days around hiking, winter activities or local traditions.
Circular Trails and Herbs
Three circular hiking trails are signposted in the municipality of Stiefenhofen: Balzhofen / Hertnegg, Weißenbachmühle and the Herb Garden Loop. The 11.5-kilometre-long Herb Garden Loop has a stated walking time of four and a half hours and leads to the Artemisia Allgäu Herb Garden in Hopfen. A guided herb garden visit and a place to stop for refreshments are available there. The walking time is a specific guide for planning your day; route details may change, so it is worth checking the current trail conditions.
The Artemisia Allgäu Herb Garden is in the district of Hopfen and has 300 different medicinal and culinary plants. The garden is accessible to everyone around the clock; check the current access arrangements before your visit. The Balzhofen / Hertnegg loop also offers a place to stop for refreshments in Balzhofen at Cafe Katharina. Check separately whether it is currently open before planning this stop.
Cross-Country Ski Trails and Local Traditions
The cross-country ski trails in the municipality include the 8.6-kilometre Stiefenhofen Trail (Route 15), the 1.6-kilometre training trail (Route 16) and the 4.5-kilometre Hopfen Trail (Route 18). The training trail is the shortest of the three; the Hopfen Trail is in the middle in terms of length, and the Stiefenhofen Trail is the longest. Whether the trails are available depends on winter conditions.
The annual calendar also includes the Maypole raising: in the municipality, the maypole is traditionally raised by hand on 1 May. A festival with the brass band and the traditional costume association follows. Check the current year's programme before visiting.
Chapels as Hiking Destinations
A chapel hike takes you to three chapels in the municipality: the Plague Chapel, St. Martin's Chapel in Hopfen and the Hahnschenkel Chapel. To view the inside of the Plague Chapel, you can collect the key from the Stiefenhofen tourist office; confirm the current key arrangements in advance.
A chapel was built in Hopfen around 1800 to replace a wooden chapel. Since 1935, the annual Martinsritt horseback procession has been held for its patron saint's festival. Here, too, it is worth checking the programme for the relevant year before your trip.
When to Visit and Holiday Apartments
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Stiefenhofen, your preferred travel dates can influence which activities you choose: cross-country skiing depends on winter conditions, while the Maypole Festival and Martinsritt take place on set dates. The circular trails and herb garden offer further options for planning your vacation days.
Discover more destinations: Oberreute, Lindenberg im Allgäu, Heimenkirch, Argental, Opfenbach, Scheidegg, Bodolz, Sigmarszell.
For the overview of the wider travel area: Lindau.
