Leipheim between town history and moorland

Explore town history and culture

The Blaue Ente Local History and Peasants’ War Museum covers two themes in separate areas: the old building focuses on Leipheim’s history, while the museum barn explores the German Peasants’ War. The museum also includes the “Mühlentechnik” exhibition building, where visitors can explore milling technology in the building and with the help of display panels. Those interested in the history of the Peasants’ War will also encounter this chapter in the name of the Jakob-Wehe Gate. It is a passage through Leipheim’s town wall, west of the Old Hospital. Jakob Wehe was Leipheim’s first Protestant pastor and one of the leaders of the Leipheim band during the Peasants’ War of 1525.

A guided town tour begins in the castle courtyard. It passes through the ensemble of the castle, museum and tithe barn, and along the town wall through the upper town. Another way to experience the town wall on foot is the new, barrier-free panoramic walkway. It runs from the Jakob-Wehe Gate to Schießgraben-Straße and offers a pleasant walk. This means you can choose between a guided tour with several stops and a walk along the walkway.

The tithe barn at the end of Leipheim’s castle courtyard has served a variety of purposes over the course of its history. The town bought it in 1815; from 1865 to 1970, it served as a depot and as a garage for vehicles and equipment used by the Leipheim Volunteer Fire Brigade. In 1983, the building was saved from demolition, comprehensively renovated from 1993 onwards and opened in 2002 as a centre for art and cultural exchange, creativity and inspiration. Today, in addition to a restaurant, it houses a civic hall and the town council chamber. As a venue, it offers a varied programme that includes classical music, jazz, world music, new music, folk, blues, theatre, cabaret and children’s culture.

Moorland trails and cycling routes

Leipheimer Moos is a fen and has been a nature reserve since 1993. Despite extensive disturbance, it offers an attractive and varied landscape and suitable habitats for many rare animals and plants. Marked turn-offs from the Donaumoos circular trail lead to the “Rural History and Nutrition” and “Experience Nature” trails. The longer and shorter loops offer routes ranging from 3 to 10 km. This lets you combine a visit to the moor with the themes of nutrition and rural history, or focus on experiencing nature.

Leipheim is also a starting point or stop on cycling tours. The town is a stop on the 604-kilometre Danube Cycle Path through Germany. The route is clearly signposted and can also be ridden in sections. Another option is the Danube-Alb circular route: its total distance is 43 km, of which around 10 km run through Leipheim’s municipal area. The route passes through Günzburg, Leipheim, Riedheim, Langenau, Rammingen, Asselfingen, Niederstotzingen and Riedhausen; Bächingen and the mooseum can also be included as optional stops.

The Swabian Potato Tour also begins in Leipheim. You can ride it independently or, if you wish, join a guided tour organised by potato producers. You can also join at other stages, interrupt the tour and ride it in the opposite direction. The route passes through Bavarian Swabia, sometimes directly by historical sites, through forests and to other attractions. The stages are considered suitable for children and families. Most of the routes are paved, but they also include some small climbs and farm tracks. This information can help you choose a tour based on the type of route and the level of organisation you prefer.

If you would like to plan your stay around a particular date, the historic Leipheim Children’s Festival is another special feature: it traditionally takes place on the second weekend in July.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Leipheim, you can start by deciding what you would most like to do: the museum, town history and culture offer different experiences from the trails in the moor or multi-day cycling stages. This makes it easier to choose a destination based on the activities that are of particular interest to your travel group.

Discover more places

If you would like to discover more places: Haldenwang, Offingen, Kammeltal, Bibertal, Ichenhausen, Aletshausen, Krumbach and Breitenthal.

For the broader travel overview: Günzburg.