Raisting brings together the history of satellite communications and a hiking trail that passes large antennas and the listed radome. Visitors choosing the town as a travel destination can learn about technology history outdoors along the trail and—subject to the applicable visiting conditions—also plan a visit or guided tour of the radome.
The Raisting Radome: Technology History on Lake Ammersee
The Raisting Radome is a listed satellite ground station in Raisting on Lake Ammersee. It was built in 1963/64 to plans by Hans Maurer on behalf of the Deutsche Bundespost. Until 1985, the Earth station served intercontinental telephone and television communications via communications satellites. The history of the building and the history of communications come together here in one specific place.
The radome is among Germany’s monuments of national importance and is considered the birthplace of satellite-based telecommunications in Europe. This classification helps explain Raisting’s focus on technology: the story is not just about the facility itself, but also about the role satellite communications played in transmitting telephone and television signals.
Plan Your Hike on the Earth Station Trail
Three information boards along the Earth Station hiking trail explain satellite communications technology, its history, and the current work of the antennas located there. The trail thus offers an introduction to the subject that covers both the technical background and the antennas’ present-day function.
Within the wider Weilheim-Schongau destination, the approximately five-kilometer circular trail starts at Raisting railway station. It passes through the Earth station, by the large satellite dishes, and by the Radom industrial monument with historic Antenna 1. The radome is also within walking distance of Raisting railway station.
The Earth Station hiking trail is free to access at any time and is independent of the radome’s opening hours. Check local notices before you travel. You can take a break at the former pilgrimage chapel of St. John the Baptist, which offers a view of the Alpine range. The circular trail combines technology history, a rest stop, and a scenic viewpoint.
The radome itself has separate visiting conditions: during opening hours, you can visit independently without prior registration. Check the current opening hours in advance. Outdoor tours of the Earth station cover all the antennas, including the Radom industrial monument. They can be booked at any time through association member Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Hermann Martin, who is an eyewitness and expert; confirm availability before your trip. This means you can plan the freely accessible hiking trail separately from a visit or guided tour of the radome.
Church Architecture and Local History
The architectural history of St. Remigius adds another distinct historical note. The present church building in Raisting was built in 1692/96 by Michael Natter from Vorarlberg, the master builder of DieĂźen Abbey. Today, the interior conveys an elegant late Rococo atmosphere.
The Raisting-Sölb e. V. local history and traditional costume association’s local history museum occupies seven rooms in the former rectory. Together with St. Remigius and the Earth station, this landmark offers another facet of local history—alongside the far-reaching history of satellite communications.
Discover more destinations: Peiting, HohenpeiĂźenberg, Habach, Huglfing, Altenstadt, Weilheim in Oberbayern, Steingaden, Wessobrunn.
Go to the main travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.
