Roßhaupten brings together Lake Forggensee, circular trails and a rich local history. When planning, it helps to keep the different time commitments in mind: alongside a village walk of about 45 minutes, there is a longer heritage trail and a steep climb to a viewpoint. The village museum, chapels and sites along the Via Claudia add cultural highlights.
Lake Forggensee: water, views and boat trips
According to the local tourism website, Roßhaupten’s beach on Lake Forggensee is suitable for swimming, snorkelling and diving. From there, the view stretches across the lake to the royal castles, the peaks of the Ammergau Alps and Säuling. The beach thus combines the water activities mentioned with sweeping views of the landscape.
There is a landing stage for Forggensee boat trips at the Roßhaupten power station. In the Ostallgäu region, Forggensee boat tours run regularly during the summer season. If you are planning a trip, check the timetable for your chosen date.
Circular trails for different time budgets
The Dragon Trail is a heritage trail for adults and children. The circular walk takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. You can start at the car park by the Kurpark on the southern edge of Roßhaupten, at the Forggensee boat landing stage, or from the village centre, with a short additional walk to the trail. Stops covering the legend of St Magnus, the stone cross, the stone bridge dragon at Tiefental and the Dragon Fountain in the stream valley give the route its local themes.
The shorter Moosenweg circular walk leads from the church in the village centre to the edge of the village and back. The route is 2.8 kilometres long, takes about 45 minutes and has an elevation difference of 15 metres. Compared with the Dragon Trail, it has a shorter stated duration; the two trails also differ in their themes and route details.
Allow about an hour for the climb to the Buch-Zwieselberg viewpoint. From the western edge of the village, the route climbs steeply via forest tracks, a narrow footpath and a bridge. Sturdy footwear and sure-footedness are required. At the viewpoint, there is a cross and a panoramic information board; the view extends across the hiking region. The steep gradient and the explicit requirements for footwear and sure-footedness are important differences from the circular walks described above.
Nearby, the Senkele nature trail starts at a forest car park on the district road between Roßhaupten and Seeg and leads to the Senkele Waldhaus. The walking time, excluding stops, is about 30 minutes. Child-friendly information boards along the way explain woodland, timber, water and geology. For information about cycling and hiking trails, as well as maps, you can contact the Tourist Information Office in Roßhaupten.
Village museum, Roman road and chapels
The village museum in the Pfannerhaus presents village life in the past and traditional crafts. It also covers the history of four notable sons of Roßhaupten and the production of artificial flowers by entrepreneurs who were expelled from the Sudetenland after the Second World War. The permanent exhibition on the Via Claudia Augusta provides information about the historic Roman imperial road between Donauwörth, Altino near Venice and Ostiglia on the Po.
Paths and landmarks outside the museum also recall the Via Claudia Augusta. The Via Claudia circular trail explores the theme with a milestone at the Hartenberg viewpoint and the art park of the same name on Forggenseestraße. A short detour leads to the renovated St Ulrich Fischhaus Chapel; the key is available next door on request.
The small Baroque chapel of Maria Steinach was built in several phases: Matheis Holl erected it around 1650. Soon afterwards, it was rebuilt to plans by Johann Jakob Herkomer and completed in 1706 by Joseph Miller from Rettenbach. The altar, dating from around 1710, depicts the Visitation of Mary; the interior contains wooden figures from the 18th century. From Maria Steinach, 14 Stations of the Cross lead to the summit of Roßhaupten’s Calvary Hill.
Roßhaupten thus brings together short and long walks, views over Lake Forggensee and tangible reminders of local history. When choosing your stay, you can combine the stated walking times and trail requirements with the cultural highlights.
Discover more destinations: Rieden am Forggensee, Buchloe, Pfronten, Obergünzburg, Seeg, Rieden am Forggensee, Kaufbeuren and Eisenberg.
For the broader travel overview: Ostallgäu.
