Discover Steingädele: Chapel, Moorland Trails and History

Steingädele combines historic buildings with routes leading towards the moorland. The local chapel and granary tell of different periods of construction, while the cycling and walking routes each offer something different. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on architecture, a cycling route or a section on foot.

Local Chapel and Granary

In the hamlet of Steingädele stands a listed Catholic local chapel: a small, Neo-Romanesque hall church with a three-sided chancel, roof turret, porch and interior furnishings. The chapel bears the date 1896. It is included in the Bavarian List of Monuments as of 4 June 2026.

The listed granary belonging to the so-called Noll farm is located at Steingädele 15a. The two-storey building with an open gallery dates from the late 16th century and was altered in 1849; it is also included in the Bavarian List of Monuments (as of 4 June 2026). Comparing the two makes their different construction periods clear: the chapel bears the date 1896, while the older granary was altered later.

Distinguishing the Cycling Route from the Walking Trail

The “Land of the Moors – Cycling around Wiesfilz” route offers a short walk along the educational moorland trail into the Premer Filz on the way towards Lechbruck. Bicycles should be left outside the moor for this section. If you are cycling, plan to walk the moorland trail as a separate, short section.

Another cycling route, the “Cycling Pilgrimage: Veneration of St Ulrich in the Pfaffenwinkel”, passes the chapel in the hamlet of Steingädele and then heads straight towards Steingaden. Some road surfaces along this route may change. The King Ludwig Way, by contrast, is a hiking route: it leads to Urspring and then reaches the turn-off to Steingädele on the “Steingaden–Lechbruck” local road. In the village, it follows an agricultural track towards the Premer moorland. Check local signs for the route; local conditions may affect whether it is accessible.

These routes offer different ways to explore the area: a bike ride with a short walk into the Premer Filz, a cycling pilgrimage past the chapel, or a hiking route that continues towards the moorland from the village. These differences can help you weigh up the type of activity and the destination of your tour.

Culture in the wider destination of Steingaden

In the wider destination of Steingaden is the Welfenmünster, the former abbey church. Its Gothic cloister is a striking architectural detail, and the building reflects artistic and architectural periods ranging from the Romanesque to the modern era. The Wieskirche is also located in the Steingaden district of Wies. Built by Dominikus Zimmermann from 1745 to 1754, this Rococo church has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Visitors are welcome to attend services and, in summer, to listen to concerts. Check the current programme for specific dates.

The St John’s Monastery Garden in Steingaden also offers special features: it includes a Gothic labyrinth, and medicinal plants can be experienced there with all the senses. Four interactive themed trails lead to special places in Steingaden and share information about the monastery’s history, the Brettleweg and the Wieskirche. The trails use a mixed-reality guide by Locandy; check that the guide is working before using it.

Several customs mark the annual calendar. Every year on Whit Monday, the Trachtler of the Upper Lechgau Association hold a pilgrimage to the image of the Scourged Saviour at the Wieskirche. Afterwards, the Wies Trachtler and marksmen invite pilgrims and visitors to a garden festival. According to the municipality’s description of the Corpus Christi custom in Steingaden, the day includes a festive service in the Welfenmünster followed by the traditional procession through the streets of the former monastery village. The municipality describes the May Day custom in Steingaden as erecting a blue-and-white-painted maypole decorated with figures representing tradition and crafts, followed by a May festival with music and dancing.

Discover more destinations: Urspring, Prem, Wildsteig.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Steingaden.