Discover Beuren: Swedish House, chapel and hiking trails

Beuren offers views across the Lower Linzgau, Lake Constance and the Alps. Alongside this landscape, the Swedish House and St. Wendelin’s Chapel are two historic landmarks in the village. They represent different themes: Alemannic half-timbered architecture and a former pilgrimage history. Together with the hiking routes, they provide several specific starting points for planning a trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Beuren, the scenery, architectural history and hiking can help you tailor your stay to your interests.

The Swedish House and St. Wendelin’s Chapel

The Swedish House is a two-storey, raised Alemannic half-timbered building with an infilled projecting bay. It dates from 1367. It is also said to have survived the near-total destruction of Beuren in 1643. “Raised” describes a construction method using load-bearing posts; the infilled projecting bay is a protruding part of the building with infilled sections. At the Swedish House, you can therefore see both the supporting structure and a specific half-timbered detail.

St. Wendelin’s Chapel in Beuren dates from 1760 and was formerly a pilgrimage site. The two buildings offer different historical perspectives: the Swedish House is notable for its construction and the account of 1643, while the chapel is notable for its former role as a pilgrimage site. They offer a chance to explore architectural and religious history as distinct aspects of Beuren.

Hiking trails connected with Beuren

The 25-kilometre circular hike from Salem Castle to Heiligenberg Castle and back starts at the Salem Castle car park, passes through Altenbeuren and continues through orchards to Beuren. The northern route of the Salem Jubilee Trail passes through Salem’s districts of Mimmenhausen, Stefansfeld, Weildorf, Beuren and Altenbeuren. This gives you different points of reference when choosing a route: a circular trail with a stated distance and castle destinations, and a route whose course is described by naming several districts. Beuren and Altenbeuren are shared points of reference on both routes; the northern route also includes Mimmenhausen, Stefansfeld and Weildorf.

More destinations in the wider Salem destination

In the wider Salem destination, Salem Abbey and Castle was founded as a Cistercian monastery in 1134. The Fire Brigade Museum at Salem Abbey displays four centuries of firefighting technology through pumps, models and equipment. You can explore the museum and the monastery grounds with an audio guide. The interior rooms of Salem Abbey and Castle can be visited on regular guided tours without booking. Check the operator’s information for current visitor details.

The 15-kilometre Prälatenweg trail leads from Salem Castle to Birnau Abbey, starts at the Salem Castle car park and takes about four hours to hike. At 25 kilometres, the circular hike to Heiligenberg Castle is 10 kilometres longer; the Prälatenweg also has an approximate duration listed. As a former Cistercian abbey, Salem Abbey and Castle is also situated on several popular cycling routes, including the Lake Constance Cycle Path and the Bäderradweg.

Discover more destinations: Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Sipplingen, Meersburg, Billafingen, Owingen, Neukirch, Roggenbeuren, Eriskirch

Back to the main travel overview: Lake Constance.