Ochsenhausen: Monastery, Trails and Water

As a travel destination, Ochsenhausen combines monastic history with designated walking and cycling routes. The well-preserved St. George’s Monastery is one of the great Baroque complexes in Upper Swabia. The Ochsenhausen Monastery Museum brings the long history of the former Benedictine imperial abbey to life. This gives you two distinct focuses when planning your trip: the history of the monastery and routes on foot or by bike.

Monastery and Museum

The monastery museum includes a Gothic tower monstrance made of solid silver from the 15th century, which is considered one of the finest works of its time in southern Germany. The library hall in the monastery is on the upper floor of the north wing, above the chapter house and the armarium. It has two levels and a gallery running around it. The collection and the room offer different perspectives on the monastery: the monstrance is a single object in the collection, while the library hall’s location and spatial design take centre stage. If you are planning a museum visit, check the latest visitor information in advance.

Waterways and Cycling

The trails also reflect the monastery’s water management. The Krummbach, significant for its historical water engineering, was once the monks’ breviary path and was originally built to supply water to the monastery. The Four Streams Hike lets you explore the monastery’s water supply along the Krummbach. In addition, two circular trails are signposted in Ochsenhausen: the “Historic Route” and the “Water Trail.” There is also a water playground for children along the Krummbach Trail. If you are travelling with children, you can include it as a separate activity.

The cycling routes differ in their connections to the town: the Upper Swabia–Allgäu Cycle Route leads directly to Ochsenhausen. The Öchsle Cycle Route follows the railway line of the “Öchsle” and is signposted in Ochsenhausen.

St. George’s Ride and Bathing Area

A regular event in the annual calendar is St. George’s Ride, held every year on the first Sunday in May. With around 600 riders, it is one of the largest equestrian processions through the countryside in Upper Swabia. The Baroque procession on horseback was established in 1718 and resumed in Ochsenhausen in 1977. The two dates mark different stages in the tradition: its establishment and its revival. If you are planning to attend the ride, check the exact event date in advance.

Ziegelweiher is a seasonal public bathing area on the edge of Fürstenwald Forest. If you would like to swim there, check the latest local information before your visit.

Culture in the wider Biberach travel destination

In the wider Biberach travel destination, the Upper Swabian Museum Village of Kürnbach offers a unique way to explore history: it presents six centuries of history and includes more than 30 historic buildings that provide insights into everyday life in times gone by. In Steinhausen, the pilgrimage church was built between 1728 and 1731 by Dominikus Zimmermann and his brother Johann Baptist Zimmermann. The Museum of the History of Christians and Jews in Laupheim explores three centuries of shared life between Christian and Jewish residents.

Discover more destinations: Kanzach, Kirchdorf an der Iller, Bad Buchau, Schemmerhofen, Dettingen an der Iller, Warthausen, Wain, Riedlingen

Back to the wider travel overview: Biberach.