Winterrieden combines a precisely dated church history with the route of the Way of St. James through the town. The parish church of St. Martin and the route offer two different perspectives: artworks from the mid-18th century and a specific pilgrimage route. The broader travel destination of Unterallgäu offers further regional themes.
St. Martin’s Church and its artworks
The parish church of St. Martin in Winterrieden was remodeled from 1751 to 1755. Its ceiling paintings date from 1753 and are the work of Franz Georg Hermann, a court painter from Kempten. The stucco decorations by Johann Georg Wirth were also created in 1753. The high altar painting dates to around 1753 and is preserved to this day.
The dates cluster around 1753, while the remodeling began in 1751 and was completed in 1755. The date of the high altar painting remains approximate. The paintings, stucco, and preserved altar painting can therefore be considered as different elements of the artistic decoration, without treating their respective dates as identical.
The Way of St. James through Winterrieden
The Way of St. James passes through Winterrieden. At the entrance to the town, follow Kerkerweg to the main road, then head toward the church and continue along the main road toward Reichau. Check the local route markers before setting out. This route description provides specific guidance for the section through the town.
The maypole is another local highlight: it received an award and was voted the most beautiful in the Unterallgäu. Together with the parish church and pilgrimage route, it offers a glimpse of different sides of Winterrieden—artistic history, a route through the town, and an award-winning local landmark.
Unterallgäu: Trails and nature
In the broader travel destination of Unterallgäu, the Iller to the west and the Wertach to the east form the natural boundaries. Cycling and hiking trails throughout the district are uniformly signposted; there are also the Glückswege trails. This regional orientation complements the specific information about the pilgrimage route through Winterrieden with further themes for a trip to the Unterallgäu.
The Benninger Ried is one of the Unterallgäu’s nature destinations described separately. It is easy to explore on foot and has its own educational trail and viewing platform. In Bad Grönenbach, a 3.2-kilometer forest adventure trail offers insights into the forest ecosystem. The Buxheim Forest Adventure Trail runs for 2.7 kilometers around Buxheimer Weiher and is designed to make nature a multisensory experience. At Bannwald in Ottobeuren, eleven stations lead visitors along the forest adventure trail. The trail lengths in Bad Grönenbach and Buxheim can be compared directly; each of the described destinations is located in the named district municipality.
Culture across the wider travel destination
The cultural destinations of the Unterallgäu each have their own character. The Baroque basilica in Ottobeuren and Mindelburg Castle in Mindelheim are among the region’s important architectural monuments. The Fugger Castle in Kirchheim is home to the world-famous Cedar Hall. The former Imperial Charterhouse in Buxheim is known for its choir stalls. The region’s descriptions thus present churches and monastic heritage alongside castle and fortress architecture.
In the monastery’s east wing, the Sebastian Kneipp Museum documents the life and work of the famous priest through more than 2,000 exhibits. Bad Wörishofen is one of the Kneipp spa towns in the Unterallgäu; Ottobeuren is a Kneipp health resort. At Mindelburg Castle, the courtyard is accessible year-round, while the keep, which has been converted into a viewing tower, is open from April to October. As seasonal access can change, check the latest information before visiting.
Travel and seasonal planning in the Unterallgäu
Across the Unterallgäu, the A7 and A96 motorways, an extensive road network, rail connections, and Allgäu Airport in Memmingerberg make the region easy to reach. This information describes the wider travel destination. For your specific journey, check the appropriate connections and conditions before you travel.
The Culinary Mile in Bad Wörishofen is a seasonal highlight. It takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn, and offers freshly prepared dishes at numerous tasting stalls. Dates and food offerings may vary from year to year, so check the current event schedule if you are planning your stay around it.
Discover more destinations: Buxheim, Stetten, Tussenhausen, Kirchheim in Schwaben, Mindelheim, Memmingen, Ottobeuren, Westerheim
Go to the wider travel overview: Unterallgäu.
