Discover Aichen: Ulrich Church and the Cycling Pilgrimage Tour
Accommodation in Aichen
One specific cultural point of interest in Aichen is Ulrich Church. The “Ulrich Churches between Wertach and Kammel” cycling pilgrimage tour passes through Aichen and leads to the church there. This links a named cycling route with a clear local connection: depictions of Saint Ulrich and the history of the church building. If you plan to take the tour, check the route page for current practical information before setting off.
Aichen’s Ulrich Church: layers of building and imagery
Different periods can be distinguished at Ulrich Church. The choir section essentially dates from the 15th century and is part of the Late Gothic church. The nave and tower date from 1727; the interior frescoes are from the time the church was built. The altars were created in 1883. These details refer to different things: they trace the church’s history from the older choir section through the nave and tower to the later altar design, presenting a clear historical sequence for the building.
The imagery also has its own distinctive features. The frescoes on the gallery depict episodes from the life of Saint Ulrich. Among the altars created in 1883 is an Ulrich altar on the left. Ulrich thus appears both in the paintings and among the altars. For travelers interested in historic church art, the appeal lies in this combination: the architecture, paintings, and altars each tell a different part of the same local story.
The 15th-century choir section and the parts of the building dating from 1727 offer a specific comparison, while also drawing attention to the later altars. If you include the church in your travel plans, you can follow this sequence: first, the different building phases, then the frescoes, and finally the Ulrich altar as another detail of the interior.
If you first decide what interests you, you can then search for accommodation more selectively.
More to explore in the wider GĂĽnzburg destination
The wider Günzburg destination also offers a variety of hiking options. The DonAuwald hiking trail is considered the first premium hiking trail in Bavarian Swabia and runs for around 60 kilometers between Günzburg and Schwenningen. The DonauHänge follows a different route: this 18.5-kilometer circular trail runs between Günzburg and Offingen through the slope forest. You can compare the longer route and the shorter loop by their length and course. The certified Streifzüge walking trails round out the selection, with routes along streams and ponds and through gently rolling countryside.
Another cultural highlight in the wider GĂĽnzburg destination is Maria Vesperbild near Ziemetshausen in the district of GĂĽnzburg. Maria Vesperbild is considered the largest pilgrimage site in Bavarian Swabia and attracts 400,000 to 500,000 pilgrims each year to the image of the Sorrowful Mother of God. A Way of the Cross leads from the pilgrimage church to the Fatima Grotto in a nearby forest. The grotto was built in 1957 and restored in 2011; it contains more than 1,000 votive plaques bearing words of thanks and testimonies to the help received from the Mother of God.
Two museums offer another way to explore history. The Bavarian School Museum in Ichenhausen traces the development of education over thousands of years. Its historical exhibits include a classroom that once accommodated around 50 children. The Museum of the City of Burgau covers the history of the town from the Middle Ages to the recent past across two floors and more than 700 square meters. The two museums focus on different subjects: the history of education at one, and the history of a town at the other. Check current opening details before planning a museum visit.
Leisure and sports are also part of the wider Günzburg destination. LEGOLAND® Deutschland in Günzburg features 11 themed worlds and 68 attractions; the theme park and its adjoining holiday village offer experiences for children aged 2 to 12. MINILAND is the heart of the park. A sporting alternative is the Turncable Wakepark in Thannhausen, which offers wakeboarding and water skiing. Courses are available for beginners and advanced participants, as well as for individuals and groups. Check current operating days and course availability before making plans.
For the wider travel overview: Ziemetshausen.
