Bernbeuren: Auerberg, Church and Hiking Trails

Bernbeuren is best discovered through Auerberg, with St. George’s Church and its pilgrimage tradition, and through hiking trails ranging from an adventure route to a larger network of circular trails; from the church tower’s viewing platform on Auerberg, the view stretches across the entire German Alpine chain. Other highlights include the Georgi-Ritt and the Burgweg to the former Urthel castle site. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your trip: a route with interactive stops, cultural history or an annual tradition. If you are looking for accommodation in Bernbeuren, first consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.

Auerberg: Church, Art and Tradition

Auerberg is 1,055 metres high and is home to the medieval Church of St. George. Inside, it houses a Gothic work by the sculptor Jörg Lederer of Kaufbeuren. During the Baroque and Rococo periods, Auerberg Church developed into a popular pilgrimage site, attracting pilgrims from as far away as Tyrol. The medieval church, Gothic artwork and pilgrimage tradition give the place several layers of history. From the church tower’s viewing platform, the view stretches across the entire German Alpine chain.

The Georgi-Ritt is part of local tradition. It has been held annually on the last Sunday in April on Auerberg and at St. George’s Church since 1925. Its recurring date makes the procession a special seasonal reference point when planning your trip. If you would like to experience it, check the event date for your travel year.

Hiking Trails of Different Lengths

The VIA DAMASIA, around four kilometres long, passes through the Feuersteinschlucht gorge and follows the Jägersteig trail up to the Roman settlement of DAMASIA. Seven interactive stops offer little adventures and fascinating information; the average hiking time is about 1.5 hours. There are also around 60 kilometres of circular hiking trails around Bernbeuren. VIA DAMASIA is a single adventure route with an average hiking time of about 1.5 hours; in addition, there are around 60 kilometres of circular trails around Bernbeuren.

The Burgweg offers a different kind of hike. A marked trail leads to the former castle site, also known as “Urthel”. Numerous clay plaques made by Bernbeuren schoolchildren decorate the route. The Burgweg leads to the former Urthel castle site, while VIA DAMASIA leads to the Roman settlement of DAMASIA and has seven interactive stops.

Choosing among these highlights gives your planning a clear direction without requiring you to fit every theme into a single stay.

In the wider Weilheim-Schongau destination

Weilheim-Schongau is in the Pfaffenwinkel travel region. The district is bordered by the Lech to the west, the Ammer flows through its central area, and the Loisach runs along its eastern border.

Cultural attractions in Weilheim-Schongau include the Wieskirche near Steingaden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Dominikus Zimmermann built it between 1745 and 1754. The church welcomes visitors to services, summer concerts and quiet reflection. If a concert is important to your plans, check the dates for your travel period.

The Penzberg Mining Museum presents the history of industry, preserving the memory of the local pitch coal mine, which operated from 1796 to 1966. The museum offers multilingual guided tours for international visitors, families and school groups. The wider destination therefore offers technical and industrial themes alongside church and pilgrimage history.

Discover more destinations

You can also discover Burggen as another destination.

Discover more destinations: Pähl, Penzberg, Schongau, Peiting, Oberhausen, Wielenbach, Wessobrunn.

Go to the wider travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.