Laugna: Castle History and Churches

Castle History in Bocksberg

Bocksberg hilltop castle was probably built in the early 13th century as the seat of the Lords of Bocksberg, who lived there from 1231 to 1322. Over the following centuries, the castle complex changed hands several times; in 1613, the Augsburg Fuggers bought it. During the Thirty Years’ War, it was so badly damaged that it was never rebuilt. Ditches, earthworks, and a remnant of the keep have survived from the high- to late-medieval complex.

The castle ruins are in the district of Bocksberg and can only be reached on foot via Burgweg or a field path near Bergstraße 15. Check the access routes locally before your visit. The extensive castle grounds host the Bocksberg Castle Market and a rock festival each year. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the dates for your travel year.

Churches from Different Periods

In Laugna itself stands the Baroque church of St. Elizabeth. It was consecrated in 1720 while still unfinished and was formerly the Church of St. John; its patronal feast was still celebrated in 1433. The history of the present church building and its earlier name give the town two distinct historical points of reference.

Further dates and details can also be discovered in the districts. In Osterbuch, the parish of St. Michael was founded around 1289. Construction of the new church began in 1768; auxiliary bishop Franz Xaver Adelmann von Adelmannsfelden consecrated it in 1769. In Bocksberg, the Church of St. Leonard was renovated in 2003. Its altar table holds two reliquaries from the Rococo period, dating from around 1780. This offers a perspective ranging from an early parish foundation to specific furnishings from later centuries.

Cycling Through Laugna

The “Hügelland aktiv” cycling tour passes through Laugna. At the entrance to the village, the route continues along the cycle path toward Aspach. In the wider region, the tour is described as a moderately difficult circular route through the mostly hilly countryside in the southeast of Dillingen district.

The loop starts at the pilgrimage church in Wertingen-Gottmannshofen and runs counterclockwise via Geratshofen, Rischgau, Bocksberg, Laugna, Rieblingen, Possenried, Hirschbach, Wortelstetten, Hinterried, Frauenstetten, and Reatshofen, before returning to Gottmannshofen. This makes Laugna part of a larger circular route, while the cycle path toward Aspach provides a specific landmark at the village entrance. Check the current signs and route conditions before setting off.

A Look at the Wider Region

In the broader destination of Dillingen An Der Donau, the DonAUwald hiking trail runs for just under 60 kilometers through the floodplain forests along the Danube; 40 kilometers of it lie within Dillingen district. The trail is Bavarian Swabia’s first premium hiking trail. All five classic stages can be reached by train. If you are planning a specific stage, it is worth checking the train schedule.

This highlights the difference between the main attractions when choosing where to stay: the church history and castle ruins are in the municipality of Laugna, and the “Hügelland aktiv” tour passes through the town. The DonAUwald hiking trail, by contrast, is a hiking option in the broader destination of Dillingen An Der Donau.

Ice-making offers a culinary detail, too: Uli from Bocksberg Eis makes ice cream specialties by hand using fresh quality milk and natural ingredients. Natural ingredients are used for the most part; where possible, they come from the region.

For the broader travel overview: Wertingen.