Discover Kötz: architectural history, places of remembrance and hiking trails

Kötz combines the history of church architecture with locally named hiking trails. Churches in several localities reflect different construction phases; the trail names evoke themes such as steep riverbanks, beaver habitats and the Celts. You can therefore tailor your stay to culture, nature or a mix of both.

Churches, a castle and local history

The Catholic Church of St Peter and Paul in Großkötz is a Gothic structure that was given a Baroque makeover by Joseph Dossenberger in 1764/65. In Ebersbach, the Catholic Church of St John the Baptist has an older core with a three-sided choir and a west tower; it was given a Baroque makeover around 1700. The comparison reveals two distinct architectural histories: the alterations in Großkötz are dated to 1764/65, while those in Ebersbach date to around 1700. In Kleinkötz, the Catholic parish church of St Nicholas dates from 1691/93 and is attributed to Valerian Brenner. A different type of building is Holzapfel Castle, a three-storey hipped-roof building with a pond complex. The Lettenkreuz commemorates Latvian resettlers in 1946. The church, castle and cross offer different perspectives on local history.

Hiking trails with different themes

The “Cycling and Hiking around Kötz” overview lists local hiking trail No. 15068, “Günzburg District – Tour 6 (Along the Steep Riverbank Upstream on the Danube)”. It also lists No. 14529, “Günzburg District – Tour 2 (To the Beaver Habitat)”, and No. 14445, “Günzburg District – Tour 9 (In the Footsteps of the Celts)”. The names alone highlight different themes: a riverbank, a natural habitat and a historical connection. Long-distance hiking trail No. 807 is also listed as an access route to the Swabian-Allgäu Hiking Trail (Neu-Ulm/Günzburg). This means the different tour themes are complemented by a clearly designated access route.

LEGOLAND® Deutschland opened near Kötz in May 2002. Its opening is a historical reference point that adds another aspect of the surrounding area to the older architectural and local-history themes.

More ideas for nature and culture in the Günzburg destination

In the wider Günzburg destination, hiking trails vary in both length and layout. The DonAuwald hiking trail runs for around 60 kilometres between Günzburg and Schwenningen and is the first premium hiking trail in Bavarian Swabia. The DonauHänge is an 18.5-kilometre circular trail between Günzburg and Offingen, passing through the hillside forest. The comparison offers two concrete planning considerations: the distance and whether a trail is a circular route or runs between two places. The Hansenhohl nature trail in Thannhausen is around 1.5 kilometres long and has eight play and information stations. Winter visits are not recommended because of the risk of slipping. From its first to its last listening point, the Ichenhausen Celtic Trail is three kilometres long. At six listening points, the lives of the Celts and Druids are presented through audio; the starting point is the car park at the cemetery in Ichenhausen. Listening Point 6 is currently inaccessible. Check the current trail conditions before setting out.

The wider Günzburg destination also offers a range of themes for culture enthusiasts. In Maria Vesperbild, a Way of the Cross leads from the pilgrimage church to the Fatima Grotto. The grotto was built in a nearby forest in 1957 and restored in 2011. More than 1,000 votive plaques at the Fatima Grotto express thanks and bear witness to help received from the Mother of God. Maria Vesperbild is considered the largest pilgrimage site in Bavarian Swabia; 400,000 to 500,000 pilgrims visit the shrine to Our Lady of Sorrows each year. The Bavarian School Museum in Ichenhausen traces the development of the school system over thousands of years. Its exhibition rooms include a historic classroom that once accommodated around 50 children. The Museum of the City of Burgau covers more than 700 square metres and presents the town’s history from the Middle Ages to the recent past across two floors. Wettenhausen Monastery Museum opened in 2021 and offers insights into a tradition spanning almost a thousand years.

You can use this priority to guide your search for suitable accommodation.

Discover more destinations: Jettingen-Scheppach, Leipheim, Neuburg An Der Kammel, Breitenthal, Ichenhausen, Günzburg.

Go to the wider travel overview: Günzburg.