Bavarian Swabia: World Heritage, the Ries and River Routes

In Bavarian Swabia, UNESCO World Heritage in Augsburg, the crater in the Nördlinger Ries and routes along the rivers come together. Experiences range from urban history and theatre to multi-day hikes and cycling tours. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore worth first considering which of these sides of the region you want to shape your holiday.

Augsburg: Water Heritage, History and Marionettes

Augsburg’s Water Management System is part of UNESCO World Heritage in Bavarian Swabia. It comprises a functionally interconnected group of 22 interdependent elements. So the focus is not on a single structure, but on an integrated system. Those interested in the city’s history will find another notable place in the Fuggerei: Jakob Fugger founded it in 1521, and it is considered the world’s oldest social housing complex.

Official guided tours of Harburg Castle offer another way to discover history. They cover 900 years of history and include the castle church, the battlements, prison towers and the courtroom. In Augsburg, the Puppet Theatre creates a distinctive experience of its own: For decades, it has presented marionette productions, and one floor above the theatre is the puppet theatre museum “Die Kiste”. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your days, from historical themes to theatre experiences.

The Ries and the Western Forests: Landscapes with Distinctive Character

The Nördlinger Ries lies in the north of Bavarian Swabia. The 25-kilometre-wide crater formed around 15 million years ago when a meteorite struck. Those who want to discover the landscape on foot can consider the Ries Panorama Trail: The seven-day route circles the meteorite crater in the UNESCO Global Geopark Ries. The Ries’s natural history gives this trail a different focus from a hike through forest landscapes.

Augsburg–Western Forests Nature Park covers 1,225 km² and is the only nature park in Bavarian Swabia. Kloster Holzen, a former Benedictine convent, is in the northern part of the nature park. The church’s magnificent Baroque interior makes a striking impression. In Bavarian Swabia, the Swabian Danube Valley, the Ries Geopark and Augsburg–Western Forests Nature Park invite you to cycle, hike and enjoy nature with the family.

Choose Cycling and Hiking Routes by Their Character

Cycling routes vary in scale: The Danube Cycle Path runs for 100 kilometres between Neu-Ulm and Donauwörth through the Swabian Danube Valley. The DonauTäler Cycle Route covers a total of 14 Danube tributary valleys over around 300 kilometres. Via Claudia Augusta, the DonauTäler Cycle Route and the Danube Cycle Path are each classified as four-star ADFC Quality Cycle Routes.

Hiking routes also differ in length and course. The DonAUwald Hiking Trail is the first trail in Bavarian Swabia to be classified as a premium hiking trail. It stretches for just under 60 kilometres between Günzburg and Schwenningen and is connected to the region’s rail services. The Ries Panorama Trail, in turn, is described as a seven-day route around the crater. Which of these routes better suits your plans depends, among other things, on whether you’re looking for a multi-day hike or a different regional trail experience. The 7 Chapels Circular Route connects seven chapels along a route of about 153 kilometres.

Bavarian Swabia offers interconnected riverside cycling routes, ranging from easy circuits for families and leisure cyclists to more challenging options. The Romantic Road connects seven towns in Bavarian Swabia between the Ries and the Wittelsbacher Land. This makes it possible to combine cycling and hiking interests with cultural destinations, without assuming that one route will suit every day of your holiday.

Regional Cuisine and Further Discoveries

Regional diversity is also reflected in local specialities. Rieser Bauerntorte comes from the Nördlinger Ries: This yeast cake with a covered apple filling has a tradition dating back to the 16th century. Swabian Maultaschen are a speciality in Bavarian Swabia. These pasta parcels typically contain a meat or vegetable filling and a distinctive proportion of spinach. Culinary themes like these complement a holiday whose other days are more focused on culture, landscape or activity.

Plan Your Journey and Accommodation Around Your Holiday Priorities

The Bavarian Swabia tourism region comprises the districts of Aichach-Friedberg, Augsburg, Dillingen, Donau-Ries, Günzburg and Neu-Ulm, as well as the independent city of Augsburg. Bavarian Swabia is located at the A7/A8 motorway junction and can be reached by car or train. The Bayern-Takt provides hourly train services every day from morning until late at night, including Saturdays and Sundays; check the current timetables for your journey.

Then base your search on your holiday priorities. This way, your choice of accommodation stays connected to what you actually want to experience in Bavarian Swabia.

Discover more destinations: Kelheim, Miesbach, Tirschenreuth, Forchheim, Upper Palatinate Forest, Passau, Ostallgäu, Rhön.

Back to the main travel overview: Bavaria.