Dillingen a.d. Donau: City History and Riverside Forest

Dillingen a.d. Donau combines a distinctive urban history with trails in the riverside forest and along the Danube. The castle, collegiate church and Königstraße represent different chapters in the city’s history; the Kneipp circular trail, the natural Kneipp facility, and various running and cycling routes offer other ways to plan your days.

Castle, Collegiate Church and Königstraße

The oldest parts of Dillingen Castle date from the 13th-century Hohenstaufen period. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it was converted into a fortified castle and served for centuries as the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg. The castle’s history thus spans several eras, from its early structures to its later role as a residence.

The collegiate church was built between 1610 and 1617 and is considered the city’s most significant building in terms of art history. Its stage altar plays a special role: Johann Anwander (1715–1770) created it around 1760. It is one of the few surviving stage altars in Germany and opens each year in the week before Palm Sunday.

Königstraße also tells part of the city’s history. Formerly known as Herrengasse, it is a well-preserved ensemble of house façades from the 17th and 18th centuries. Together with the castle and collegiate church, it shows how different historic buildings each reveal distinct aspects of Dillingen’s past.

City History at the Museum and on a Guided Tour

The City and Prince-Bishopric Museum is located at Hafenmarkt in two historic buildings: the Unteres Stiftshaus and the Angerer-Haus. The museum illustrates the city’s history. Its Roman provincial and Alemannic collections also document the history of the surrounding area.

From April to October, public guided tours covering the city’s general history take place every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The programme includes the Golden Hall, the collegiate church, the Basilica of St. Peter, the Franciscan church and the castle. This gives you the opportunity to discover several cultural and historical sites as part of a guided overview. Check the dates and programme details before your visit.

Kneipp Circular Trail and Riverside Forest

The signposted Kneipp circular trail has two sections and runs through the historic old town and Taxispark, with nine information panels along the way. Four more information panels accompany the route through the riverside forest to the Danube. The natural Kneipp facility on the Danube invites visitors to try Kneipp treatments. It lies in the riverside forest south of Dillingen; Sebastian Kneipp is said to have recovered from a serious illness at this spot in November 1849.

Dillingen’s riverside forest is also home to a fitness trail with more than 20 stations and two running routes of up to 3,000 metres. The shorter route goes around the small Silbersee and is suitable for walking, jogging, cycling and Nordic walking. The options there range from individual exercise stations to a circuit that accommodates several leisure activities.

Walking and Cycling on Different Scales

For a longer cycling tour, the 202-kilometre Mozart Circuit runs from Dillingen via Donauwörth, Oettingen and Nördlingen and back to Dillingen. One walking option is the DonAuwald Family Trail: its stage from Lauingen to Dillingen is about 13 kilometres long. These details describe two very different types of tour—a longer circular ride and a single walking stage.

In the wider destination of Dillingen an der Donau, the DonAUwald hiking trail runs for just under 60 kilometres through the riverside forests along the Danube; 40 kilometres of it lie in the district of Dillingen. It is Bavarian Swabia’s first premium hiking trail.

The cultural and outdoor activities mentioned here offer different starting points for exploring the area.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Holzheim, Lauingen, Gundelfingen an der Donau, Bachhagel, Buttenwiesen, Höchstädt, Bissingen, Finningen.

Back to the main travel overview: Dillingen an der Donau.