Sonthofen: Discover City Stories and Nature

Sonthofen combines historic urban culture with a waterside landscape on the edge of the Allgäuer Hochalpen nature reserve. The town lies in the upper Iller Valley, on the Iller and Ostrach rivers. From cultural offerings in historic buildings to paths on Kalvarienberg and nature experiences in the districts, you’ll find a range of options to shape your travel plans.

Exploring Kalvarienberg

The ecological spa park extends around the summit of Kalvarienberg and at the foot of the hill near Götzfried’s Weiher. Ponds and wetland habitats, flower-rich extensively managed meadows, trees and woody vegetation shape the grounds. Walking paths and benches invite you to slow down and take in the park landscape.

Some of the Erlebnisweg Alpenstadt trail’s stations are also located on Kalvarienberg. The trail connects the urban area with an alpine nature reserve. Its three connected sections can be explored independently and feature play and adventure elements. The information boards also include a children’s corner. Along the way, nature topics and interactive discoveries go hand in hand, and there’s no single required way to explore the trail.

In the oldest part of town, the Catholic parish church of St. Michael stands at the foot of Kalvarienberg. If you’d like to combine a walk with a hiking idea, you can also consider Sonthofen’s southernmost districts as starting points: hikes from there include routes to the Hinanger Waterfalls.

Culture in historic buildings

Sonthofen’s KulturViertel brings together the AlpenStadtMuseum, StadtHausGalerie and StadtBibliothek, with a varied cultural program in historic buildings. The venues are within easy walking distance of each other, so you can combine several cultural stops during one visit. Since 1930, the AlpenStadtMuseum has housed Sonthofen’s local history collection in an old farmhouse dating from the 18th century. Both the collection and the building give a visit to the museum a connection to the town’s history.

Another defining tradition is the Egga-Spiel, an old carnival custom with pre-Christian origins. Since it was revived by Heimatdienst Sonthofen in 1955, it has taken place in Sonthofen every three years on Funkensonntag. If you’d like to plan your trip around this event, check the current event dates.

Nature experiences and activities for children

During the holiday adventure weeks at Biberhof, children aged 6 to 12 experience nature. Activities include building bridges and shelters, whittling, cooking over an open fire and making jewelry. The weeks focus on hands-on activities rather than a sightseeing-only program; check the current packages before traveling. Biberhof also has benches, barbecue areas and play areas.

In Altstädten, the 12,000-square-meter leisure complex includes a natural swimming area, sunbathing and open spaces, a multi-purpose sports court and a kiosk. Opening times may vary by season. If you’re planning a visit, it’s a good idea to check the current opening hours.

For getting around town, Sonthofen offers free loan bicycles with shopping baskets at the Radl-Bahnhof, right by the town hall. They are available to Sonthofen residents and holidaymakers with the Allgäu-Walser-Card from the Alpsee-Grünten holiday region. The bikes are intended for use within the town; availability may change, so it’s best to ask locally.

More things to do in the Oberallgäu

The wider Oberallgäu destination offers other independent places to visit and activities. Oberstdorf has 200 kilometers of hiking trails and nature trails. You can also visit the Heini-Klopfer ski flying hill there; a tower lift takes visitors to the viewing platform on the ski jump tower.

In Immenstadt-Bühl, the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Center is right by Lake Alpsee. Its free interactive exhibition explores animals, plants, their habitats and the special features of the protected area. From Immenstadt station, the “Achis Wasserweg” themed trail takes 30 minutes to walk; in bad weather, bus routes 39, 11 and 81 run there. Check the timetable and walking time beforehand. Also in Immenstadt, in Diepolz, the interactive Allgäuer Bergbauernmuseum documents the lives of Allgäu mountain farmers in historic buildings. Opening hours vary by season.

Other regional contrasts include Breitachklamm, with well-maintained and secured paths, and Starzlachklamm between Burgberg and Sonthofen, which is a starting point for hiking and canyoning. Routes and access points may vary by season. The Oberallgäu also offers cycling options ranging from leisurely to sporty, and traditional mountain huts serve regional specialties.

Discover more destinations: Durach, Wiggensbach, Wertach, Burgberg Im Allgäu, Bolsterlang, Haldenwang, Rettenberg, Hörnergruppe

Back to the main travel guide: Oberallgäu.