Schongau: City Wall, History and Experiences
Accommodation in Schongau
Schongau combines medieval history with experiences centred on water, nature and fairy tales. The old town sits on a hill, offering far-reaching views across the surrounding countryside. A long stretch of the city wall has been renovated and made accessible to visitors. There are also historic churches, a town museum and attractions to suit a range of interests. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider whether you’d like to focus your stay on the old town and its stories, or set aside time for excursions and activities too.
Old Town and Trade History
The medieval old town, with its very well-preserved city wall, sits on a hill and offers sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. A long stretch of the wall is accessible, combining views of the fortifications with a stroll through the city’s history. The city wall is therefore not just a feature of the historic townscape, but also a practical landmark when exploring Schongau.
The Ballenhaus is another testament to the town’s trading history. It was built in 1420 as a “Schranne” for storing goods, after the Bavarian dukes granted the town permission in 1405 to establish a warehouse for goods. The two dates mark successive steps: first permission to store goods, then construction of a building specifically for that purpose. The term “Schranne” refers to the building’s original function as a warehouse.
Churches, Organs and Museum
The parish church of the Assumption of Mary, also known as “Zu Unserer Lieben Frau” (“Our Lady”), is the oldest Christian place of worship on the hill of Schongau’s new town. Since 1988, a year-round nativity scene depicting biblical episodes has been displayed in the church, with the scenes changing every four to six weeks. A visit at different times of year can therefore bring different scenes into focus.
The building history of the Carmelite monastery can also be clearly dated: the Discalced Carmelites founded a monastery in Schongau in 1719, and it was built together with the church from 1720 to 1725. The Church of the Holy Spirit Hospital houses a small, valuable Baroque organ. Its present form was created in 1725 by Schongau organ builder Ferdinand Stückl. The church and organ thus represent different facets of the town’s religious and artisanal heritage.
Schongau Town Museum was founded in 1891 as one of the early local history museums in Bavaria. It displays the Häringer house altar from the chapel at the Windkreut farm in the municipality of Peißenberg, a virtuoso work of Bavarian Rococo. The altar also brings a work of art from another place into the historical context of the Schongau museum.
Water, Fairy Tales and a Historic Raft
Plantsch Badespaß und Saunaland is a water park for all age groups. Its facilities include a heated outdoor wellness pool with a water surface of 219 square metres and a depth of 1.30 metres. A white-water current channel adds to the pool. There is also a 90-metre tyre slide with timing, sound and lighting effects. Its specific dimensions and features make Plantsch a distinct option alongside the old town’s historical attractions.
At Schongau Fairy Tale Forest, displays and stories bring well-known fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm to life; there is also a woodland adventure trail. Those interested in fairy tales will find a different way to explore stories here than at the town museum or historic buildings. Another special experience is a ride on the historic long-distance trading raft on Lake Lech in Schongau. On board, town guides talk about the lives of the raftmen of old and the Lech’s natural environment. If you’d like to include a raft trip in your plans, check in advance when it is available.
Getting There and a Culinary Highlight
Schongau station is the terminus of the Pfaffenwinkel Railway from Weilheim. Connections to Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen are available via Weilheim. If train travel is important for your trip, factor this connection into your choice of holiday apartment and check the timetable for your travel date.
The Ballenhaus also has a culinary connection: every Friday from 10 a.m., it hosts a Weißwurst breakfast with white sausages, pretzels and sweet mustard. Before your visit, check whether it is taking place on your chosen date.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Polling, Huglfing, Rottenbuch, Steingaden, Peiting, Hohenpeißenberg, Seeshaupt, Wielenbach.
Back to the regional travel guide: Weilheim-Schongau.
