Germaringen: Wendelin Festival, Churches and Cycling Tour

Germaringen can be explored through specific dates, architectural history and a named route. The Wendelin Festival has a recurring place in the calendar each year; churches in Obergermaringen, Untergermaringen and Ketterschwang offer different historical highlights. There is also the “Wertach Plain north of Kaufbeuren” cycling tour. If you are planning a stay, you can choose between an event with a set date, a look at sacred buildings and a cycling route.

Wendelin Festival in October

The Wendelin Festival is still celebrated every year on the Tuesday after Kirchweih (the church fair). Kirchweih falls on the third Sunday in October, so the festival is celebrated on the following Tuesday. The program includes a church service and a devotional service.

Because the festival date is tied to the Sunday in October, its exact calendar date changes. If you would like to travel for the Wendelin Festival, check the date for the relevant year. The Tuesday after the third Sunday in October remains the timing reference.

Churches and their architectural history

The pilgrimage church of St. Wendelin stands in Obergermaringen. A chapel had already stood on the same site in 1580; the church was built there in 1697. The two dates therefore mark a predecessor building and the later church built in the same location.

In Untergermaringen, Georgiberg Hill forms a striking link between the church and the village. The 718 m-high hill overlooks Untergermaringen; the Church of St. George on Georgiberg stands 60 m above the village. These figures refer to two different elevations: the height of Georgiberg Hill and the church’s position above the village.

The Catholic parish church of St. James the Elder in Ketterschwang is a new Rococo building with centrally arranged chapel extensions dating from 1757/58 and a tower from 1716. The dates show that the church was built in different phases: the tower dates from the early 18th century, while the chapel extensions date from 1757/58.

The churches offer different points of interest for a visit: in Obergermaringen, the focus is on the sequence from chapel to later church; in Untergermaringen, on the prominent elevation; and in Ketterschwang, on the combination of a new Rococo building, chapel extensions and an older tower.

Cycling tour through several named places

Before reaching Ketterschwang, the “Wertach Plain north of Kaufbeuren” cycling tour passes through Dürrenwald Forest to Untergermaringen, then continues via Obergermaringen and Mauerstetten to Kaufbeuren and Neugablonz. Its route links several named places in a set sequence. If you are planning the tour for your trip, check the current route before setting off.

The festival and cycling tour offer different highlights: the Wendelin Festival is tied to a recurring annual date, while the cycling tour is described by its route. Together with the churches, they offer ways to explore Germaringen through a calendar event, local architectural history and a route linking several named places.

In the wider Ostallgäu travel region

The wider Ostallgäu travel region also offers regional themes to consider when planning a trip. In the Ostallgäu district, the mountains in the southwest are part of the Vilser Gebirge range, while those in the southeast belong to the Ammergebirge range. At 2,082 meters, Hochplatte is the highest mountain in the Ostallgäu.

For cycling, the Ostallgäu Cycling Travel Region includes regional routes that extend across the entire Ostallgäu. Each is 25 to 76 kilometers long, consistently signposted and has its own theme. The Ostallgäu also has 32 local hiking routes that showcase special natural and local attractions. These details offer a regional comparison with the specific cycling tour through Ketterschwang, Untergermaringen and Obergermaringen.

The Ostallgäu also offers a wide range of cultural and natural attractions: since July 12, 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Linderhof Palace, the Royal House at Schachen and Herrenchiemsee Palace. Visits to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are possible only as part of a guided tour. This gives you both regional routes and clearly identified cultural sites, each with its own visiting requirements, to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Buchloe, Füssen, Biessenhofen, Eggenthal, Ronsberg, Halblech, Obergünzburg, Unterthingau

Back to the wider travel overview: Ostallgäu.