Discover Herdwangen-Schönach

Herdwangen-Schönach combines opportunities for hiking and cycling with a diverse sacred landscape and a distinctive cultural offering. Chapels, churches and Lourdes grottoes tell stories of different eras and dedications; the Kleinschönach Art Hall complements these impressions with exhibitions and events. The wetlands of Ruhestetter Ried provide another focal point. Which of these aspects interests you most can guide your trip planning and your search for suitable accommodation.

Hiking, cycling and experiencing nature

The extensive network of hiking trails in Herdwangen-Schönach includes the Linzgau Way of St. James. Another way to get out and about with others is the open hiking group “Dienstagswanderer” (“Tuesday Hikers”): it meets every Tuesday afternoon from spring until late autumn. Guests are as welcome as local residents and holidaymakers. The community bulletin publishes the latest meeting details. This lets you choose between hiking independently and joining a regular group outing.

For cycling trips, the traffic-calmed roads and cycle paths around Herdwangen-Schönach offer a variety of options. Hiking and cycling thus provide different ways to enjoy active days. The Ruhestetter Ried nature reserve is a particular draw for nature lovers: wet meadows, sedge marshes and reed beds form a valuable habitat there. If you want to combine activity and nature when planning your trip, you can make these themes a focus alongside the cultural attractions.

Churches, grottoes and local history

The Chapel of St. Wendelin on Ramsberg contains structural elements from the high medieval castle complex of the Counts of Ramsberg and Pfullendorf, dating to the 11th century. In Großschönach, the church is dedicated to St. Anthony and was built around 1384. These two places mark different historical periods: the chapel’s connection to the castle complex and the church’s approximate date of construction.

The Lourdes grottoes each have their own connection to the area. In 1908, residents of Großschönach built a Lourdes grotto in the Ramsberger Tobel gorge. The Großschönach Lourdes Grotto draws many worshippers to devotions, particularly in May. Another Lourdes grotto was built at Hüttenbrühl in 1890 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Those interested in religious traditions will find several sites and historical connections here, rather than just one grotto as a travel theme.

In Aftholderberg, the church is dedicated to St. Eulogius. It stands on a watershed: rainwater flows from one side of the roof into the Rhine and from the other into the Danube. A watershed divides drainage basins; here, this connection is visible in the two sides of the church roof. Also in Aftholderberg, a festival in honour of the patron saint of horses, St. Eulogius, is held every July at the invitation of the St. Eulogius Association of Aftholderberg. It includes a blessing of the horses and a solemn church service. Both the church’s dedication and the festival are thus connected to St. Eulogius.

The Kleinschönach Art Hall offers a different cultural focus. It is a studio collective of various artists and has developed into a cultural centre for the region, hosting exhibitions and events. Art and events thus offer another perspective for trip planning, alongside historical and religious themes.

A distinct focus within the wider Sigmaringen destination

Within the wider Sigmaringen destination, Sigmaringen Castle offers a distinct way to explore history: it developed from a medieval castle into a princely residence and is considered a landmark of the town. Castle tours explore almost 1,000 years of the history of the House of Hohenzollern. This cultural focus belongs to Sigmaringen and adds another theme to the wider destination’s picture of Herdwangen-Schönach.

Choosing accommodation that suits your plans

When looking for accommodation, it is worth first weighing up your interests for the trip: will you focus mainly on hiking and cycling, the history of the churches and grottoes, the July festival, or art? This way, you can choose accommodation to suit your own plans, rather than assuming that a single base will suit all your interests equally.

Discover more places and destinations

More places in the destination: Aftholderberg, Kleinschönach.

Discover more destinations: Inzigkofen, Herbertingen, Sauldorf, Sigmaringendorf, Bad Saulgau, Waldbeuren.

Back to the wider travel overview: Sigmaringen.