Heising combines a distinctive cheese-making history with the traces of two railway stations. Champignon Cheese Dairy, a historic cheese kitchen and St. Wendelin Chapel each add a different facet to the town’s history. Those who enjoy combining history and hiking can explore themes ranging from cheese production and passenger transport to freight transport.
Cheese History in Heising
Champignon Cheese Dairy was founded in Heising in 1908 by Julius Hirschle and Leopold Immler. Its history includes a Camembert made from 500 litres of milk a day, with a distinctive flavour. Because of its pronounced fresh-mushroom aroma, it was named “Champignon Camembert”. Local cheese-related history therefore includes not only the founding of the dairy, but also the cheese-making process and the origin of the product’s name.
Two Railway Stations, Different Stories
Heising’s Old Railway Station was built in 1862/63 along with the Memmingen–Kempten railway line and served as a passenger stop for 40 years. The New Railway Station was inaugurated in 1902 and remained in operation until 1979. Because of its proximity to Champignon Cheese Dairy, it soon acquired the nickname “Cheese Station”. Up to one and a half tonnes of cheese were loaded there each day as express freight and transported onward in refrigerated wagons.
This highlights two distinct aspects of railway history: passenger transport at the Old Railway Station and cheese shipments from the New Railway Station. The stations also belong to different periods: the Old Railway Station was built with the railway line in 1862/63, while the New Railway Station—with its inauguration in 1902 and cheese transport—belongs to a later chapter.
St. Wendelin Chapel
St. Wendelin Chapel is considered the only place of worship in southern Germany owned privately by an association. The local farming community built it through the efforts of a church-building association. It was dedicated to Saint Wendelin, the patron saint of farmers. Catholic and Protestant services are held regularly in the chapel; dates may vary. If you would like to attend a service, check the date in advance.
Hiking Trails and Historic Stops
The Lauben History Trail has 39 stops and includes, among others, Heising’s Old Railway Station, the Heising cheese kitchen, Wendelin Chapel, Champignon Cheese Dairy and Heising’s former New Railway Station. These stops offer different ways to explore the town’s history—from cheese-making and religious heritage to the railway.
Hiking Trail L2 offers a different kind of orientation: it follows shady forest paths into the district of Heising, then leaves Heising via Finken and continues east towards Haldenwang. Thus, L2 focuses on the route and direction, while the History Trail identifies historic stops. For planning purposes, the difference is clear: one trail names historic sites, while the other is described by its forest paths and direction.
Further Historical Milestones
Villa Hirschle / Immler was first mentioned in 1712, burned down in 1904 and was subsequently rebuilt. The “Zu den sieben Schwaben” inn is also part of the history of the New Railway Station: it was established immediately after the station was built in 1902. The building at Dorfstraße 14 served as the cooperative cheese dairy’s cheese kitchen from 1906 to 1926.
These dates span different periods: the villa’s first mention goes back to 1712, while the railway station, inn and cheese kitchen mainly reflect developments from the late 19th to the early 20th century. In Heising, you can therefore encounter both older local history and the later connections between rail transport and cheese-making.
For an overview of the wider area: Lauben.
