Unterroth has two distinctive sides: the Catholic parish church of St. Gordian and Epimachus, and the hilly, partly wooded plateau between the Roth and Günz rivers. This offers architecture and landscape as different focal points for a stay. In the associated municipality, Matzenhofen adds its pilgrimage church and the starting point of the Rechberg Route. The road connection to the A7 also provides a clear reference for getting here.
The parish church and its architectural history
The Catholic parish church of St. Gordian and Epimachus is a hall church with a narrower polygonal choir and a tower with a gabled roof at the northern corner. A polygonal choir has a multi-sided end; the recessed choir is narrower than the nave. The tower and choir walls date from around 1500. The nave was extended to the west in 1922, following plans by David Eberle. The choir features stucco work by Michael Eitele.
Those interested in religious architecture can explore both the church’s architectural form and its varied historical and artistic details. The information about the tower and choir walls points to the period around 1500, while the western extension of the nave marks a later phase of construction. Storks have been nesting for many decades on the parish church’s late Gothic tower with its gabled roof.
Hilly landscape and walks
The hilly, partly wooded plateau between the Roth and Günz rivers shapes Unterroth’s landscape and invites visitors to enjoy extended walks. If you would like to focus your stay more on outdoor activity and scenery, this is a distinct option alongside the town’s architectural history. The landscape description gives an impression of the area; for planning, the specific distance of the Rechberg Route in Matzenhofen is also useful.
Matzenhofen: pilgrimage church and Rechberg Route
Another ecclesiastical point of interest in the associated municipality is in the village of Matzenhofen. The pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Sorrows stands on a hill in a wooded area. Built in 1751, it features frescoes by Franz Martin Kuen and is a popular destination for an outing. Matzenhofen therefore offers a distinct cultural and historical stop within the municipality, separate from the parish church of St. Gordian and Epimachus in Unterroth.
The Rechberg Route starts at Matzenhofen 4, 89299 Unterroth, below the pilgrimage chapel. It is 15.8 kilometres long. For planning purposes, this information is different from the general option of taking extended walks across the plateau: the route has a specific length and a named starting point. Check parking and route conditions before setting out.
Road connections
In Unterroth, state road 2020 and district road NU 5 intersect. NU 5 connects the village to the Illertissen junction (exit 124) on the A7, about five kilometres to the northwest. This provides a clear guide for travelling by road; check current driving conditions before your trip.
More to explore in the wider Neu-Ulm destination
The wider Neu-Ulm destination also offers a range of cultural and nature experiences. The Edwin Scharff Museum on Petrusplatz in the centre of Neu-Ulm combines an art museum and a children’s museum. At the children’s museum, hands-on and interactive stations give visitors of all ages the opportunity to take part. The Plessenteich bird sanctuary is in the Gerlenhofen district of Neu-Ulm, where 200 bird species have already been sighted. A viewing tower offers views of resting and nesting birds there throughout the year.
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