Ehingen a.Ries: Simultaneous Church and Chapels
Accommodation in Ehingen Am Ries
Sacred art in Ehingen a.Ries tells stories from more than one era: the Romanesque crucifix in the Simultaneous Parish Church of St. Stephen and St. Ulrich is considered the oldest surviving work of art in the Ries. At the same time, the church’s shared use by Catholics and Protestants shapes the history of the town. Chapels in Ehingen and Belzheim add further, very different stories to this picture.
A crucifix and a continuing simultaneous arrangement
The denominational division that followed the Reformation of 1550 continues in the simultaneous arrangement. Catholics and Protestants share the church; it is currently the only simultaneous church in Bavaria. Here, the term refers not only to a historical development but also to the shared use of the church space. Visitors interested in the connection between art and religious history will find both in one place in Ehingen: the Romanesque crucifix and a denominational tradition that continues to the present day.
This connection between different periods can also be traced at the Chapel of St. Aloysius. The Catholic chapel was originally built in Lohe. After the death of the last Catholic resident there in 1877, it was moved to Ehingen. Today it stands outside the cemetery. Its local history thus leads from Lohe to Ehingen and differs markedly from that of the shared parish church.
Chapel history and archaeological traces in Belzheim
Belzheim is also part of the picture of the municipality. There, the Catholic Parish Church of St. Michael was built in 1608 and given a Baroque makeover in 1682. The Chapel of St. Anthony in Belzheim was built by former Bavarian State Minister Anton Jaumann. The two church buildings offer the town different historical points of reference: the construction date and later Baroque transformation of St. Michael are recorded, while the builder of the Chapel of St. Anthony is known.
The burial mound group reveals another chapter in Belzheim’s history. Excavations uncovered remains of wooden burial chambers containing grave goods of varying value. The chambers were covered by earthen mounds of different sizes. These finds offer insight into burial practices and material differences, without reducing the story to a single museum exhibit. Those choosing what to explore on their trip can therefore consider not only church buildings but also archaeological traces from Belzheim.
Geology and local history in the wider destination of Donau-Ries
Beyond Ehingen a.Ries, the wider destination of Donau-Ries offers a range of different themes. The Geopark Ries, with the Ries Crater formed by a meteorite impact, is described by the district as a tourist attraction. The RiesKraterMuseum in Nördlingen explores the impact, its cosmic origins and its effects to this day. Its topics and exhibits include meteorites, fossils, a piece of genuine lunar rock, information panels and multimedia offerings. The exhibition is housed in a carefully renovated medieval barn dating from 1503.
Other geological and historical themes come together in Nördlingen. The completely preserved medieval town wall is fully accessible. The town museum explores the lives and beliefs of the people of Nördlingen, the changes brought by the Reformation, the Thirty Years’ War and the 1634 Battle of Nördlingen. Its collection, more than 150 years old, is spread across four floors. A model made up of around 6,000 tin soldiers illustrates the 1634 battle. Nördlingen thus brings together local history and a vivid model of a specific historical conflict.
Another cultural highlight in Donau-Ries is the pilgrimage basilica of Maria Brünnlein in Wemding. As the number of pilgrims grew, the Rococo church was built between 1748 and 1782 to plans by Franz Joseph Roth. The shrine altar is designed as a fountain altar and includes the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary by Johann Joseph Mayr, created in 1755; Ernst Steinacker created the altar table with its fountain basin in 1953. In 1998, Pope John Paul II elevated the basilica to the status of a minor basilica. Around 150,000 pilgrims visit it each year.
When choosing a holiday destination, it helps to distinguish between the themes you are looking for: Ehingen a.Ries combines a shared parish church with chapel and local history, while the topics mentioned in Nördlingen and Wemding offer different highlights within the wider Donau-Ries destination. Consider which places and stories matter most for your trip, and focus your search for a holiday apartment accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Tapfheim, Wemding, Nördlingen, Harburg, Oberndorf Am Lech, Fremdingen, Mertingen, Wallerstein.
View the wider travel guide: Donau-Ries.
