Discover Steingaden: Wies Church, monastic history and traditions

In Steingaden, monastic history and living traditions come together with remarkable churches, a garden of medicinal plants and winter cross-country ski trails. Different interests may shape your travel plans: would you like to discover architectural history, experience a traditional festival day or make time for exercise in winter?

Welfenmünster and Wies Church: two remarkable churches

Welfenmünster is the former monastery church in Steingaden. Its art and architecture span the Romanesque period through to the modern era; the church also has a Gothic cloister. This combination of periods makes the minster a central point of interest for anyone interested in the history and architecture of the town.

Another architectural highlight is Wies Church in the village of Wies near Steingaden. Dominikus Zimmermann built the Rococo church between 1745 and 1754. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. The church welcomes visitors to services and, in summer, to concerts. As individual dates may vary, it is worth checking the relevant events calendar if you would like to plan your stay around one.

Traditions throughout the year

Recurring customs also provide possible reasons to visit. Every year on Whit Monday, members of the traditional costume associations of the Oberer Lechgauverband hold a pilgrimage to the miraculous image of the Scourged Saviour at Wies. The Wies traditional costume association and marksmen then invite pilgrims and visitors to a garden festival. The occasion brings together a pilgrimage and a communal celebration, which are distinct experiences in their own right.

On Corpus Christi, a traditional procession passes through the streets of the former monastery village of Steingaden after the festive service at Welfenmünster. On 1 May, a blue-and-white-painted maypole decorated with figures representing tradition and crafts is erected. A May Day festival with music and dancing follows. If you are planning to visit for one of these events, check the specific event details before travelling.

Themed trails and the monastery garden

Four interactive themed trails lead to places of interest and share information about Steingaden’s monastic history, the Brettleweg and Wies Church. They use a Locandy mixed-reality guide to present the information. Before setting out, it is advisable to check whether the guide is currently available. The trails offer a way to explore several aspects of the town rather than limiting your visit to a single building.

The St. Johannes Monastery Garden features a Gothic labyrinth and medicinal plants that can be experienced with all the senses. The garden offers a different focus from church architecture and festival traditions: here, the labyrinth and sensory exploration of plants take centre stage. Families can consider which of these themes they would most like to shape their trip around, without assuming that a particular experience will suit every age group.

Winter trails with different focuses

For classic cross-country skiing, a trail starts at Grubfeldweg and runs via Lauterbach, Deutensee and Maderbichl back to Steingaden. Another trail starts at Gagras, runs via Litzau to the skating circuit in Langau near Wies Church, and passes through a landscape described by the municipality as idyllic. A shorter skating loop also starts at Kissingerfeld.

The options described differ in their starting points, routes and formats: the Grubfeldweg loop is intended for classic cross-country skiing, while the route from Gagras leads to the skating circuit in Langau and the Kissingerfeld loop is explicitly shorter. Trail conditions and tracks depend on the winter season and prevailing conditions; check the latest situation before setting out.

Choose accommodation based on the reason for your trip

Steingaden offers several specific starting points for planning a trip: architecture and UNESCO World Heritage, traditional events, interactive themed trails, the monastery garden, or cross-country skiing and skating in winter. If you are travelling with children, comparing these themes can help you take different interests into account when planning; you can decide which options suit your family based on your own travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Steingädele, Urspring, Wildsteig, Prem, Wielenbach, Peiting, Habach, Huglfing.

View the main travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.