Bernbeuren: Auerberg, Hiking Trails and History

Bernbeuren can be explored through specific nature and cultural themes: Auerberg, St. George’s Church and several hiking trails each offer a different perspective. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the kind of excursion you have in mind: a route with named stops, a trail to a former castle site, or an annual tradition each leads to a different side of the town. You can choose based on hiking distance, views or historical interest.

Auerberg: Views, Church and Georgi Ride

Auerberg is 1,055 metres high. From the church tower’s viewing platform on Auerberg, you can see the entire German Alpine chain. The medieval Church of St. George stands on the mountain. It houses a Gothic work by sculptor Jörg Lederer of Kaufbeuren.

Pilgrimage is also part of the history of Auerberg Church: during the Baroque and Rococo periods, it developed into a popular place of pilgrimage. The faithful came there on pilgrimages from as far away as Tyrol. Since 1925, the traditional Georgi Ride has taken place every year on the last Sunday in April on Auerberg and at St. George’s Church. If you are planning your trip around the ride, check the date for the specific year.

Hiking Trails at Different Scales

The Burgweg leads along a marked trail to the former castle site, also known as “Urthel.” Numerous clay plaques made by Bernbeuren students line the route. The VIA DAMASIA offers a different kind of hiking destination: this approximately four-kilometre adventure trail passes through the Feuersteinschlucht gorge and climbs the Jägersteig to the Roman settlement of DAMASIA. Seven experience stations offer small adventures and fascinating information. The average hiking time on the VIA DAMASIA is about 1.5 hours.

Another useful planning figure is the approximately 60 kilometres of circular trails for hiking around Bernbeuren. This figure describes the extent of the trail network; the VIA DAMASIA has its own route, a named destination and an average hiking time. If you choose a particular loop, it is worth checking the latest trail information, as individual routes may change.

More Perspectives in the Wider Weilheim-Schongau Destination

The Pfaffenwinkel travel region is part of the wider Weilheim-Schongau destination. The rivers provide geographical orientation: the Lech marks the western boundary of Weilheim-Schongau, the Ammer flows through its central area, and the Loisach runs along its eastern boundary. Independent cultural destinations include the Wieskirche near Steingaden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Dominikus Zimmermann built it between 1745 and 1754. Visitors can attend church services and summer concerts or enjoy a quiet moment of reflection; summer concert dates may vary. If a concert is the reason for your trip, check the date in advance.

Mining history is also part of the wider Weilheim-Schongau destination: the Penzberg Mining Museum preserves the memory of the local pitch coal mining industry, which operated from 1796 to 1966. The museum offers multilingual guided tours for international visitors, families and school groups. This provides an independent topic to explore alongside the history of sacred architecture: industrial history. The approximately five-kilometre Erdfunkstelle hiking trail also runs through the wider Weilheim-Schongau destination. It starts at Raisting station and forms a loop through the Erdfunkstelle, passing large satellite dishes and the Radom industrial monument with its historic Antenna 1.

Discover more destinations: Burggen, Seeshaupt, Rottenbuch, Raisting, Schongau, Peißenberg, Oberhausen, Weilheim in Oberbayern.

See the wider travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.