Bernbeuren

Themed hiking trails

The VIA DAMASIA is around four kilometres long. It passes through the Feuersteinschlucht gorge and climbs the Jägersteig trail to the Roman settlement of DAMASIA. Seven activity stations offer little adventures and fascinating information. The landscape of the gorge, the ascent along the Jägersteig and the destination with its Roman history all shape the route. The average hiking time on the VIA DAMASIA is about 1.5 hours. If you include the route in your day’s plans, you can take this approximate time estimate into account along with the trail’s length.

There are about 60 kilometres of circular hiking trails around Bernbeuren. Another marked trail follows the Burgweg to the former castle site, also known as “Urthel.” Numerous clay plaques along the route were created by students from Bernbeuren. This gives the Burgweg its own distinctive feature in addition to its destination: the plaques were designed by local students. The VIA DAMASIA and Burgweg have different focuses in their descriptions—here, the gorge, Jägersteig and Roman settlement; there, the former castle site and clay plaques.

For families who like to include a variety of experiences in their vacation plans, these trails offer specific points of interest. The VIA DAMASIA features seven activity stations, while the Burgweg is distinguished by the clay plaques created by students from Bernbeuren. The two trail descriptions therefore emphasise different things, without requiring you to treat the routes as one continuous trail.

St. George and the history of Auerberg

The medieval church of St. George stands on Auerberg. It houses a Gothic work by the sculptor Jörg Lederer from Kaufbeuren. During the Baroque and Rococo periods, Auerberg Church became a popular pilgrimage site, drawing worshippers from as far away as Tyrol. Several historical layers come together at the church: its medieval identity, the Gothic work and its later importance as a place of pilgrimage. For travellers interested in church art and regional history, these details offer a different way to experience Auerberg than the view from the viewing platform.

The traditional Georgi-Ritt is also part of the town’s history. It has taken place every year since 1925 on the last Sunday in April, on Auerberg and at St. George’s Church. The named date and its connection with the church give the tradition a specific place in the calendar. If you plan your trip around cultural themes, the historic pilgrimage and the Georgi-Ritt are distinct aspects of Bernbeuren alongside its hiking trails.

Which focus suits your trip?

If you mainly want to hike, you can explore the VIA DAMASIA, the Burgweg and the approximately 60 kilometres of circular trails. For a stronger focus on history and culture, St. George, Jörg Lederer’s Gothic work, the history of pilgrimage and the Georgi-Ritt offer specific topics to explore. A holiday apartment in Bernbeuren is a suitable search option if these trails and Auerberg are key to your choice of destination. Families can decide whether to plan their stay mainly around hiking experiences, church history or the tradition of the Georgi-Ritt.

More pages about local towns: Burggen, Wielenbach, Peißenberg, Schongau, Weilheim in Upper Bavaria, Seeshaupt, Habach and Peiting.

Back to the main travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.