Ziemetshausen: Pilgrimage, Crafts and Nature

Ziemetshausen can be explored through a wide variety of themes: religious routes, historic crafts and a park landscape with a remarkable stock of trees. The museums provide insights into former work processes as well as living spaces. In addition, Maria Vesperbild is a pilgrimage destination. In the surrounding area, Seyfriedsberg Palace Park and its special microclimate add a natural highlight.

Pilgrimage and routes around Maria Vesperbild

Maria Vesperbild is a district of Ziemetshausen and an important reference point for pilgrimage routes. The western route of the Bavarian-Swabian St. James’ Way passes via the Catholic pilgrimage church. From the church, a Stations of the Cross path leads through a light beech forest to the Fatima Grotto north of Seyfriedsberg Palace. The sights include the Maria Vesperbild pilgrimage church, a natural monument linden avenue and the Fatima Grotto.

Near Ziemetshausen in the district of Günzburg, Maria Vesperbild is considered the largest pilgrimage site in Bavarian Swabia. Every year, the place attracts 400,000 to 500,000 pilgrims to the revered image of the Sorrowful Mother of God. Anyone interested in religious culture will find several different points of interest here: the pilgrimage church, the route of the St. James’ Way and the Stations of the Cross path to the grotto.

Living culture and crafts in the museums

In the Stegmannhaus, original preserved textile and haberdashery furnishings, an old kitchen, a living room, a bedroom and a shoemaker’s workshop provide insight into living culture around 1900. The Gebr. Stegmann Weaving Museum complements this view with the production of textiles: on display are the processing of linseed into flax thread, stages of the weaving process, mechanical looms and handlooms for rag rugs. Fabrics, fabric sample books and parts of a shop interior complete the collection. The museums open on the first Sunday of every month.

The Crafts Museum “Bei d‘ Hölzerne” shows planing, woodturning and sawing. There is also an extensive collection of woodworking tools, as well as machinery and tools from a former commercial joinery. It was established in 1900 and closed after 100 years. The Ziemetshausen Joinery Museum displays a complete carpentry workshop from around 1900 as a permanent loan. This brings different insights into the craft together: individual tools and working methods, as well as a complete workshop setup.

The Taferne is also a notable building: the two-storey structure measures 20 metres long and 17 metres wide; its ridge height is 20 metres. Another historic landmark in the town is the parish church. It was consecrated in 1705 and is now considered a special sight.

Park landscape and seasonal event

In the surrounding area, Seyfriedsberg Palace Park is home to trees over a hundred years old from all continents. On Seyfriedsberg, the particularly mild microclimate also enables the growth of heat-loving, frost-sensitive species such as the ginkgo tree. The history of the trees and the site conditions give nature its own distinctive character alongside the museums and pilgrimage routes.

A regular date in the annual calendar is the Ziemetshausen Christmas market. It takes place every year over a weekend, on the second weekend of Advent, and attracts visitors from near and far. If this market is to shape your stay, check the date for the relevant year in advance.

Choose accommodation according to your interests

When looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: should Maria Vesperbild be the main focus of your stay, are you particularly interested in the historic collections and workshops, or would you also like to include other destinations in the Günzburg travel destination? Tailor your search to the places that matter most to your plans. This way, you can choose your base according to the experiences that actually interest you, instead of simply putting together the longest possible list of destinations.

More activities in the Günzburg travel destination

The Günzburg travel destination also offers other types of experiences. LEGOLAND® Deutschland in Günzburg includes 11 themed areas and 68 attractions; the theme park and adjoining holiday village offer experiences for children between 2 and 12 years old. If you are more interested in water sports, you can go wakeboarding and waterskiing at the Turncable Wakepark in Thannhausen. The courses are aimed at beginners and advanced participants, as well as individuals and groups. Before making concrete plans, check the current operating details and course availability.

Discover more travel destinations: Aichen, Burtenbach, Ichenhausen, Neuburg an der Kammel, Krumbach, Ursberg, Günzburg, Kötz.

To the main travel overview: Günzburg.