Holzheim: St. Sebastian’s Chapel and Church History

Holzheim offers two specific starting points for your trip: the view over the Danube Valley from St. Sebastian’s Chapel and the history of St. Martin’s Parish Church. The landscape and the buildings’ history give the town different points of interest. If you would like to include other nature and culture topics in your plans, it is also worth exploring the wider destination of Dillingen An Der Donau.

St. Sebastian’s Chapel and Views over the Danube Valley

St. Sebastian’s Chapel stands on a hill above Holzheim, offering a beautiful view over the Danube Valley. Its elevated position and the view give the town a landscape perspective. Together with St. Martin’s Parish Church, this creates a different focus: here, the view over the valley takes centre stage, while there, specific dates lead into the history of the church. This allows you to discover Holzheim through two different themes without combining them into a single experience.

Church and Parish History

The lower section of the tower of St. Martin’s Parish Church dates from the 12th century; the church was extended in 1759. These two dates mark different stages in the building’s history and give you specific points of reference in time. The date from the 12th century refers to the lower section of the tower, while 1759 refers to the church’s extension.

Holzheim’s history extends beyond individual years of construction: the town was the seat of a very old parish. Until 1862, the parish included Eppisburg, Heudorf, part of Weisingen, and the Demharthöfe farms. So alongside the development of the church building, earlier parish affiliations also come into view. The reference to Weisingen explicitly covers only part of the town. For travellers who enjoy exploring history through specific places and periods, the parish history and the building’s history complement one another.

Hiking and Cycling in the Wider Destination of Dillingen An Der Donau

The DonAUwald hiking trail runs for just under 60 kilometres through the riparian forests along the Danube; 40 kilometres of it are in Dillingen district. It is Bavarian Swabia’s first premium hiking trail. All five classic stages can be reached easily by train, making them a climate-neutral option. The route figures offer different scales for planning: just under 60 kilometres for the whole trail and 40 kilometres for its section in the district. If you choose a stage, it is worth checking the timetable for the specific day.

The Donautal Cycling Event has a different focus. It takes place every two years on a weekend in September, with the central event held in Dillingen district. Three signposted routes, closed to cars, lead on culinary and cultural tours. While the DonAUwald hiking trail is described in terms of stages and train access, the cycling event centres on a weekend event and three car-free routes. If you would like to include it in your trip, check the specific date for your travel year.

The landscape along the Danube in Dillingen district is also shaped by how the region is used: gravel extraction has created a unique landscape of water and lakes over many years. This adds another landscape perspective to the riparian forests of the DonAUwald hiking trail.

The Seven Chapels add an architectural theme. They are intended to create a landmark and an architectural feature in the landscape, while developing the tradition of chapel building through contemporary design. Thus, in the wider destination of Dillingen An Der Donau, you can choose between hiking and cycling experiences, as well as landscape and architecture, according to your interests when planning your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Glött, Lauingen, Finningen, Gundelfingen An Der Donau, Höchstädt, Bissingen, Wertingen, Bachhagel

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Dillingen An Der Donau.