Durach

Durach lies in the Allgäu at the foot of the Allgäu Alps. The Durach, a tributary of the Iller, flows through the village. Trails along the river, the K5 Neuenburg circular trail and historical collections offer different ways to shape your stay. Highlights range from walks by the water to the history of mills, castles and museums.

Scenery and trails in Durach

There are extensive hikes and walks along the Durach. Cycling is also one of the tourist activities in Durach. You can therefore combine your stay with a walk by the river, a longer hike or a bike ride. For a specific outing, the K5 Neuenburg circular trail has a stated length and duration.

The K5 Neuenburg circular trail

The K5 circular trail starts at Durach school and follows the course of the Durach to the last houses in the village. Its stated length is 5.91 kilometres, and its stated duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes. These figures provide a specific guide if you want to estimate how much time to allow for the route. They apply to the K5 circular trail, not to all the hikes along the Durach.

The trail leads to the metre-thick remains of the former keep of Neuenburg Castle. Neuenburg Castle lies southeast of Durach on a wooded spur. In addition to the restored remains of the keep, other sections of wall have survived. The circular trail thus connects the course of the river with traces of the former castle complex.

Two historic mills are also among the stops on the K5 circular trail. It passes the former Bachtel Mill, which was used as a sawmill and oil mill from the 17th century onwards. The route also leads to the “Waldschenke” inn: it was mentioned as a paper mill in the 16th century and served as a cement mill from 1850. These stops highlight the different uses the sites once had along the route.

Church, rectory and village museum

A magnificent lime tree stands by the historic rectory; its age is estimated at around 700 years. The Church of the Holy Spirit in Durach is a Roman Catholic late Gothic parish church. Both are historic features of the village that offer a distinct focus alongside the K5 circular trail.

The Lingg local history collection at the Durach Village Museum displays furniture, equipment, clothing and tools from rural life in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Roggors doll collection, meanwhile, comprises more than 200 dolls from different eras and around the world. The two collections have different focuses: objects from everyday rural life on the one hand, and dolls representing a wide range of periods and places on the other.

The village museum is located at Feldweg 1. Its listed opening hours are the first Sunday of each month from 14:00 to 17:00. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.

Getting there and more things to do

Durach has a direct rail connection to the Pfronten-Steinach–Kempten railway line. Trains run hourly between Durach and Kempten; the journey to Kempten city centre takes five minutes. Check the current timetable before travelling. Bus routes 20 and 22 connect destinations within Durach and Durach with the surrounding municipalities. Check the latest local bus information before travelling, too.

Kempten-Durach Airfield is one of the highest-altitude public airfields in Germany. Scenic flights over the Allgäu mountains are available from there. If you are planning a scenic flight, check dates and availability in advance. Kempten is also a nearby medieval city, offering another, more urban focus for your stay.

More destinations in the Oberallgäu

In the wider Oberallgäu region, Oberstdorf offers its own selection of trails, with 200 kilometres of hiking paths and nature trails. Visitors can also tour the Heini Klopfer ski flying hill in Oberstdorf; the tower lift takes them to the viewing platform atop the ski jump tower. These attractions are in Oberstdorf and should be distinguished from the trails and sights in Durach.

The Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Centre is also in the Oberallgäu, right by Lake Alpsee in Immenstadt-Bühl. It has a free interactive exhibition about animals, plants, their habitats and the special features of the protected area. Opening arrangements may vary, so check before visiting. Durach’s river and local history and the distinct destinations elsewhere in the Oberallgäu can thus be considered as separate themes when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Sonthofen, Oberstdorf, Buchenberg, Dietmannsried, Oberstaufen, Obermaiselstein, Bolsterlang, Kempten

Return to the main travel overview: Oberallgäu.