Biessenhofen – Shepherd Museum and Legends Trail

Shepherding in the Baschtlehaus

The attic of the Baschtlehaus residence houses a permanent exhibition on shepherding during the era of communal grazing. The museum explores the centuries-long history of the community shepherds, highlighting a form of pasture use shaped by the community. Part of the exhibition is devoted to the Brotherhood of Shepherds of the “Black Scapular,” founded in Ebenhofen in 1719. It explores the brotherhood’s purpose, aims, and social and cultural significance. The year of its founding provides a specific historical reference point; at the same time, the brotherhood’s role and significance are central themes.

The Baschtlehaus support association provides information on a range of historical topics through special exhibitions, activity days, and talks. Concerts are also held in the Baschtlehaus barn. The program therefore ranges from historical topics to music. If you would like to plan a concert or activity day, check the specific dates before your trip.

Places of legend along the trail

The Legends Trail near Biessenhofen starts at the Shepherd and Local History Museum in Ebenhofen. It passes signposted places associated with legends, some of which feature life-size figures. The themes include the witches’ ride, the Count of Ebenhofen, the spirits of the ways, the witches’ dance, and the witches’ steed. While the exhibition focuses on shepherding and its history, the trail brings local legends to life at marked stops featuring figures and themes.

The trail surface is also described in specific terms: around 96 percent of the route is paved, while around 4 percent consists of gravel farm and forest tracks. These approximate proportions offer an additional point of reference when you are fitting the trail into your day’s plans. This lets you take both the trail’s theme and its mix of surfaces into account, without reducing it to a blanket label.

The Ostallgäu as a wider travel region

The wider travel destination of Ostallgäu broadens the view from Biessenhofen’s local stories to a larger landscape and activity region. In the southwest, the mountains in the Ostallgäu district belong to the Vilser Gebirge; in the southeast, they form part of the Ammergebirge. At 2,082 metres, the Hochplatte is the highest mountain in the Ostallgäu. This mountain landscape provides a different setting from Biessenhofen’s shepherding and legends themes.

Regional options also include cycling and hiking routes. The Ostallgäu Cycling Travel Region comprises regional routes that extend across the entire Ostallgäu. Each is between 25 and 76 kilometres long, signposted throughout, and has its own theme. There are also 32 local hiking routes in the Ostallgäu that showcase special natural and local highlights. Holidaymakers can therefore choose from a range of regional formats: themed cycling tours and local routes that focus on nature and local places.

The Forggensee offers another regional perspective: the Forggensee Cycle Route runs around the lake. Covering more than 15 square kilometres, the Forggensee is Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake and Germany’s largest reservoir. During the summer season, the Forggensee boat service regularly offers trips. If you are planning a boat trip for a specific day, check the timetable in advance.

Cultural monuments are also part of the wider travel region: as of 12 July 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle, together with Linderhof Palace, the King’s House on Schachen, and Herrenchiemsee Palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Royal Castles can only be visited as part of a guided tour. If these castles are part of your travel plans, take the guided-tour requirement into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Ruderatshofen, Bidingen, Apfeltrang, Aitrang, Schwangau, Nesselwang, Unterthingau, Halblech.

Go to the overview of the wider travel region: Ostallgäu.