Discover Kirchheim i.Schw.

Kirchheim i.Schw. tells its story through its buildings and townscape: Fugger Castle, the parish church, chapels and streets span different eras. The castle, visible from far away, is the town’s landmark and is also known as the “Bavarian Escorial.” Those interested in Renaissance art and Kirchheim’s development will find several specific points of interest here.

From medieval castle site to Fugger Castle

Between 1578 and 1587, Johannes Fugger had most of the medieval castle demolished and today’s Fugger Castle built in its place. This sequence makes the transition from the older castle site to the later palace complex tangible. In 1601, Marcus Fugger, the son of the castle’s builder, founded a Dominican monastery. This created the “Swabian Escorial” as a unified complex of castle, monastery and church—a further name that distinguishes the overall complex from the term “Bavarian Escorial” used for Fugger Castle.

From the main portal, a passage leads through the so-called Tuscan Colonnade to the Cedar Hall, the most magnificent room in the complex. Its wooden ceiling, larger-than-life terracotta figures, fireplace and imposing portals give the room its distinctive character. Its acoustics can also be experienced at numerous concerts during the summer months. If you would like to include a concert in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

Church art and traces in the townscape

The chancel of the Catholic parish church of St. Peter and Paul houses the tomb of Hans Fugger, the castle’s builder. It is considered one of the finest Renaissance sculptures in southern Germany. Another trace of the family’s history is the chapel built in 1605 by Marie Salome, née Baroness of Aulendorf-Königsegg and wife of Marcus Fugger. She had it built in place of an older Chapel of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and dedicated it as the “Chapel in Praise and Honour of the Annunciation of Mary.” The bell of St. Leonard’s Chapel is a separate historical feature: it dates from around 1470 and bears the inscription “hilf ihs yn der er unsser lieben frawen und s. lienhardus.”

The reconstruction after the great fire of 20 June 1861 can also be read in the townscape. At the time, 62 houses were destroyed; the precisely aligned gabled houses on Haselbacherstraße bear witness to the orderly rebuilding that followed. Other buildings point to earlier technical and representative functions: the Fugger water-pumping station, the Brunnenhaus at the foot of Schlossberg, was built in 1563 to supply the castle and its fountains with water. Hans Fugger had it repaired in 1585, and it was remodelled in the 18th century. A fountain with a monument to St. John of Nepomuk in the marketplace commemorates the year 1740. Its pedestal bears the relief coats of arms of Count Cajetan Joseph Fugger and his wife Anna, née Stein zu Rechtenstein.

The local history museum, on the town hall’s second floor and in its attic, covers subjects including prehistory and early history, art, folklore, local history, crafts and agriculture. A different historical portrayal is offered by the Landsknecht company founded by TSV Kirchheim in 1994 to mark the “450 Years of the Market Coat of Arms” anniversary: Landsknechts and camp followers in colourful, slashed garments depict the early Renaissance around 1540. These themes complement the castle’s history with everyday town life, customs and different historical snapshots, without being limited to a single era.

Kirchheim and the wider Unterallgäu region

When choosing your accommodation, consider whether Kirchheim’s architectural and local history should be the focus of your trip, or whether you would also like to explore other themes across the wider Unterallgäu destination. Cultural attractions there include the Baroque basilica in Ottobeuren, Mindelburg Castle in Mindelheim and the former imperial charterhouse in Buxheim, known for its choir stalls. Regional routes can also help with planning: cycling and hiking trails throughout the district are consistently signposted, and the Unterallgäu also has the Glückswege trails.

For travel within the wider region, Unterallgäu lists the A7 and A96 motorways, an extensive road network, rail connections and Allgäu Airport in Memmingerberg. This information relates to the region, while Kirchheim’s own appeal lies above all in the combination of castle history, church art and visible traces of the town’s development. This lets you decide what to focus on before choosing your accommodation for the stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sontheim, Ettringen, Westerheim, Stetten, Bad Grönenbach, Erkheim, Pfaffenhausen, Rammingen.

Back to the regional travel overview: Unterallgäu.