Kirchheim i.Schw.: Fugger Castle and Local History
Accommodation in Kirchheim in Swabia
Kirchheim i.Schw. tells its story through notable buildings and details from different centuries. Visible from far away, Fugger Castle is the town’s landmark and is also known as the “Bavarian Escorial.” The parish church, chapels, town hall and market square add sacred art and traces of local history to this picture. If you would like these discoveries to shape your holiday, you can include Kirchheim specifically in your search for a holiday apartment.
Fugger Castle: Building History and the Cedar Hall
Today’s Fugger Castle was built on the site of a medieval castle: Johannes Fugger had it largely demolished between 1578 and 1587 and the castle built. In 1601, the castle builder’s son, Marcus Fugger, founded a Dominican monastery. The castle, monastery and church thus formed a single complex, known as the “Swabian Escorial.” The town’s history can therefore be read not just in one building, but in a group of buildings that developed together over time.
The Cedar Hall is the castle’s most impressive room. Its features include a wooden ceiling, larger-than-life terracotta figures, a fireplace and imposing portals. The sequence of rooms is also a distinctive feature of the architecture: from the main portal, it leads through the so-called Tuscan Column Hall to the Cedar Hall. During the summer months, the acoustics of Fugger Castle can be experienced at numerous concerts. If you would like to include a concert in your plans, check the dates for your preferred travel period.
The Landsknecht company of TSV Kirchheim offers a different perspective on history. The club founded the group in 1994 for the “450 Years of the Market Coat of Arms” anniversary. Landsknechts and camp followers in colourful, slashed garments portray the early Renaissance around 1540. The era depicted thus connects the castle’s history with the clothing and figures of its time.
Traces of Several Centuries in Kirchheim
The choir of the Catholic parish church of St Peter and Paul contains the monumental tomb of Hans Fugger, the castle’s builder. It is considered one of the finest Renaissance sculptures in southern Germany. A bell at St Leonhard’s Chapel recalls the period around 1470; it bears the inscription “hilf ihs yn der er unsser lieben frawen und s. lienhardus”. The inscription and date reach far back into the chapel’s history.
Another chapel’s history begins in 1605: Marie Salome, née Baroness of Aulendorf-Königsegg and wife of Marcus Fugger, had a “Chapel in Praise and Honour of the Annunciation of Mary” built on the site of an older Chapel of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Those interested in local history will find collections on prehistory and early history, art, folklore, local history, crafts and agriculture in the local history museum on the town hall’s second floor and in its attic.
The town centre also preserves evidence of its development. The precisely aligned gabled houses on Haselbacherstraße represent the orderly reconstruction after the great fire of 20 June 1861, which destroyed 62 houses. A fountain with a monument to St John of Nepomuk stands in the middle of the market square. Its pedestal with a curved gable bears the year 1740 and the relief coats of arms of Count Cajetan Joseph Fugger and his wife Anna, née Stein zu Rechtenstein.
At the foot of the castle hill stands the Brunnenhaus, a Fugger water-pumping station built in 1563. Hans Fugger had it repaired in 1585; it was remodelled in the 18th century. Its original purpose was to supply water to the castle and its fountains. Another historic site in the town is the location of a medieval castle complex: in 1909, Prince Carl Ernst Fugger von Glött built a new shooting range there, along with the Hubertushaus.
Kirchheim and the Wider Holiday Destination of Unterallgäu
When planning a holiday, you can first choose Kirchheim for its local highlights: castle history, Renaissance art and reminders of the town’s development. If you would also like to explore the wider holiday destination of Unterallgäu, you will find further guidance there. The Iller forms the region’s natural boundary in the west, and the Wertach in the east. The region lies along the A7 and A96 motorways; a dense road network, rail connections and Allgäu Airport in Memmingerberg make it easy to reach.
The cycling and hiking trails throughout the district are also signposted uniformly; Unterallgäu is additionally home to the Glückswege trails. This regional perspective complements Kirchheim’s cultural and local history with trails and natural attractions across the district. When searching for a holiday apartment, you can decide whether Kirchheim’s historical attractions are the focus you want or whether to broaden your travel plans to include Unterallgäu.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Bad Wörishofen, Bad Grönenbach, Mindelheim, Woringen, Niederrieden, Ettringen, Tussenhausen, Sontheim.
Go to the main travel guide: Unterallgäu.
