Baiershofen’s protected village ensemble, the parish church of St. Leonhard and the forest paths northwest of Altenmünster add distinct touches to a stay. The local sights and activities offer different points of interest, from a historic green village to restored areas along the Weisinger Forstbach stream.

Baiershofen: A Green Village with Medieval Roots

The district of Baiershofen was established in the first half of the 14th century under the direction of Fultenbach Monastery as a forest-clearing settlement. The green village is considered a protected example of a characteristic type of forest-clearing settlement found in central Swabia and one of Bavaria’s best-preserved village greens. The location of the parish church of St. Leonhard in the middle of the green makes this village layout particularly easy to appreciate: the village ensemble and the church building can be viewed here as interconnected aspects of local history.

St. Leonhard and the Churches in Violau

The parish church of St. Leonhard stands free in the center of the green and is surrounded by a cemetery. Consecrated in 1730, the Baroque building was erected over older sections and shapes the ensemble. The church contains frescoes and Stations of the Cross paintings by Dominikus Zimmermann. Its architectural history, location and art offer different cultural perspectives on a visit to Baiershofen, without reducing them to a single feature.

Violau, also a district of Altenmünster, brings together church and astronomy themes. The pilgrimage church of St. Michael dates from 1620. The Bruder-Klaus-Heim has an observatory and a planetarium; it hosts the annual Planet Conference of the VDS Planet Section. When planning a trip with a cultural focus, you can weigh up the green village of Baiershofen and Violau’s varied attractions.

Forest, Biotope Network and Circular Trail

A biotope network created by the Bavarian State Forests is located in the state forest northwest of Altenmünster. A circular trail along the Weisinger Forstbach passes restored areas. Nearby, the hut at Vopeliusstern and its redesigned surroundings invite you to explore and linger. These offer different ways to spend time in the forest: the circular trail passes the restored areas, while the hut and its surroundings provide a place of their own to explore.

For the hike, use the Altenmünster, Süd stop and regional bus route 520 as reference points. Check the latest AVV information before travelling. This lets you plan your journey to the hike around the bus service without relying on a current timetable.

More Routes in the Wider Augsburg Destination

The wider Augsburg destination has other distinct route and nature themes. The LandArt Bonstetten Art Trail is a 5.65-kilometre circular hiking route where the artist Hama Lohrmann personally explains his sculptures. A different option is the three-kilometre meditation trail from Oberschönenfeld Cistercian Abbey to Weiherhof on the edge of the Schwarzachtal forest. The Augsburg district also has a well-developed cycling network.

The Stauden, Holzwinkel and Reischenau regions are part of the Augsburg – Western Forests Nature Park. Westwood Alpacas offers regular alpaca hikes and excursions through the nature park. These options add to the selection for travellers who want to consider other nature and cultural experiences in the wider Augsburg destination alongside Altenmünster’s local attractions.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Adelsried, Kutzenhausen, Bobingen, Ehingen, Thierhaupten, Stadtbergen, Ustersbach, Walkertshofen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Augsburg.