Prem: Moorland, Hiking Trails and Cultural Heritage

Prem lies in a pre-Alpine landscape of meadows, lakes, pastures and moorland. The Prem Moor, three long-distance hiking trails, the “Cultural Tour to Wieskirche” cycling route and St. Michael’s Parish Church offer different points of interest.

Moorland, Hiking Trails and Outdoor Activities

The Prem Moor is a raised-bog landscape with a diverse range of plant and animal life. You can explore it on foot, making the moorland a destination in its own right. Kneipp water-treading is also available in Lechaue Nature Park. This activity offers a different focus from a hike through the moor. Prem is connected to an extensive, cross-regional network of trails via the three long-distance hiking routes “King Ludwig Way,” “LechErlebnisweg” and “Heilige-Landschaft Pfaffenwinkel.” For your planning, you can distinguish between the moor as a hiking destination, the Kneipp option in Lechaue and Prem’s connection to the long-distance trail network.

Church and Local History

Different architectural periods meet at St. Michael’s Parish Church: the tower dates from the Romanesque period, while the choir and nave are Gothic. In 1755, the church was extensively restored under Abbot Marianus II. This brings together architectural elements from different art-historical periods and a clearly dated restoration. Visitors interested in architectural history can focus on specific parts of the church and its later restoration.

Another local cultural attraction is the Königsfilzhütte, the Heißerer family’s peat hut at house number 26 in Prem. Original tools from the peat-cutting era are on display inside, and the hut also serves as a place where hikers can stop for a snack. Here, peat history and a resting place for hikers come together. Unlike St. Michael’s, the two cultural attractions have different themes: architectural history on the one hand, and peat cutting and a place to stop for a snack on the other.

Cycling Route Through Prem

For cyclists, the “Cultural Tour to Wieskirche” offers a specific route. After crossing the Lech bridge, it goes through Prem and continues past the hamlets of Schlöglmühle, Küchele and Häringen to Ostern. Unlike the reference to the cross-regional long-distance hiking network, this cycling tour follows a named sequence of places. If you include the route in your travel plans, check the route details before setting off.

Culture in the Wider Weilheim-Schongau Destination

Within the wider Weilheim-Schongau destination, Wieskirche near Steingaden is a cultural attraction in its own right. Dominikus Zimmermann built it between 1745 and 1754; it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Wieskirche welcomes visitors to attend services, listen to summer concerts and enjoy a moment of quiet reflection. Dates may vary; if a service or concert is part of your travel plans, check the relevant dates. In Penzberg, the Mining Museum preserves the memory of the local bituminous coal mining industry, which operated from 1796 to 1966. Thus, religious heritage and industrial history feature as distinct cultural themes in the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Wildsteig, Urspring, Steingädele.

Go to the wider travel overview: Steingaden.