Markt Schwaben: History, Museum and Hiking Trails

Markt Schwaben brings local history and time outdoors together in one travel plan: stroll through the historic town centre, learn about the town’s history at the local history museum, or choose between two distances on a designated hiking trail. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus mainly on architectural and local history or to make a particular trail distance your priority.

Church and Museum Tell the Town’s Story

Today’s parish church of St. Margaret in Markt Schwaben was built from 1669 to 1672. The building plans were drawn up by Schwaben master painter Podtmeier, and construction was carried out by Zwerger, a master mason from Schliersee. This building history provides a precisely dated chapter of local history and names both the planner and the master who carried out the work.

The Markt Schwaben Local History Museum broadens the historical scope: across 14 rooms, it presents the town’s history from prehistory and early history through to the year 2000. The exhibition therefore extends well beyond the period when the parish church was built and reaches into more recent local history. The museum is open on the first Sunday of each month from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and on the third Monday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Check the latest visitor information before your trip. As it is open only on specific days each month, it is worth planning your museum visit around one of these dates.

Stroll Through Town or Choose a Hiking Route

The historic town centre, with its notable churches and buildings, invites you to stroll and linger. If you would rather plan a specific route, Markt Schwaben has the permanent hiking trail “Across the Schwabener Moos,” with options of 5 and 11 km. The two distances make the choice straightforward: 5 km for a shorter outing, or 11 km for a longer one. You can choose your hike based on the distance that fits your day.

The cycling route offers a different perspective: the Sempt-Mangfall Cycle Route passes east of Markt Schwaben and through the Ebersberg Forest, not through Markt Schwaben. This clearly distinguishes the hiking trail designated in Markt Schwaben from the course of this regional cycling route.

More to Explore in the Ebersberg Destination

The wider Ebersberg destination also offers its own nature and culture highlights. Climb the 169 steps of the observation tower in the Ebersberg Forest for views across the entire Alpine foothills, from the Berchtesgaden Alps to the Allgäu. On especially clear days, you can also see distant peaks over 3,000 metres high. This viewpoint adds a scenic highlight to the Ebersberg destination and offers a different focus from Markt Schwaben’s local history.

The Forest and Environment Museum has stood right beside the Ebersberg Forest since 2004 and focuses on the history of forest use and forest ecology. The Ebersberg Forest Environmental Education Centre is an institution awarded the Bavarian quality seal “Umweltbildung.Bayern” for events on education for sustainable development. Events are held mainly outdoors and in the adjacent forest; visits by school classes and other groups are possible. The museum and the environmental education centre offer different perspectives: the history and ecology of the forest on the one hand, and educational activities focused on sustainable development on the other.

Seasonal Culture and Regional Cuisine

In the municipality of Kirchseeon, the Kirchseeon Perchtenlauf is a regular part of the run-up to Christmas and takes place every year. Elaborately designed masks, ornate costumes, drums and bells shape the atmosphere. If you would like to include seasonal traditions in your travel plans, note that this event takes place in the run-up to Christmas.

Once a year, around Thanksgiving, Herrmannsdorfer hosts a large farm festival. The festival serves specialities from the fire pit, porchetta, pastrami, bratwursts, freshly made Auszogne pastries and freshly tapped Schweinsbräu beer. The stables and workshops also open their doors. East of Glonn, the former Herrmannsdorf estate is another regional landmark, known beyond the region as a model project for organic farming.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Aßling, Vaterstetten, Egmating, Hohenlinden, Oberpframmern, Zorneding, Forstinning, Glonn.

To the overview of the wider destination: Ebersberg.