Eisenberg: Castles, Church and Local Delights

Eisenberg brings together medieval castles, church architecture and regional culinary offerings. If you are looking for a hotel in Eisenberg, these themes can give your stay a fitting focus: the history of the two castle ruins, for example, the pilgrimage church of Maria-Hilf, or products from the region.

Two Castles Built at Different Times

The Hohenfreyberg Castle Ruin is a late medieval hilltop castle and, together with the Eisenberg Castle Ruin opposite, forms a group of castles visible from far away. Hohenfreyberg was built from 1418 onwards by Friedrich von Freyberg zu Eisenberg and is considered one of the last major castle constructions of the Middle Ages. The Eisenberg Castle Ruin is a medieval hilltop castle, founded around 1315 by the Edelfreie von Hohenegg. The building projects thus date more than a century apart: a castle from the early 14th century and a later major medieval castle construction offer a basis for historical comparison.

A wooden viewing platform stands at the Eisenberg Castle Ruin. From there, you can look out over Zell, a district of Eisenberg, the municipality of Pfronten and the mountain panorama beyond. The Eisenberg-Hohenfreyberg castle hike starts at the town hall or the tourist information office in Eisenberg. These provide two specific points of reference for planning if you would like to explore the castles and their history.

Church and Museum

The pilgrimage church of Maria-Hilf offers a different architectural accent: it is a Baroque church dating from the 17th century. Its features include ornate Rococo altars and impressive woodcarvings. It thus complements the medieval castles with an example of Baroque religious architecture.

In Zell, a district of the municipality of Eisenberg, the castle museum presents archaeological finds from excavations at the two castle ruins in an accessible way. If you are interested not only in the surviving structures but also in finds from the excavations, the museum offers a distinct perspective on the history of both castles.

Brewery, Cheese and Regional Cuisine

The Mariahilfer Sudhaus in Eisenberg has its own brewery and serves regional cuisine along with a selection of beers brewed on site. Brewery tours last about an hour and can be arranged by appointment. The approximate duration helps you plan your time; participation requires an appointment.

The Weizern mountain cheese dairy in Eisenberg also produces cheese and dairy specialties. It processes fresh daily, full-fat Allgäu milk from local hay-milk farmers. The dairy offers tours for groups and coach groups by prior arrangement, as well as the opportunity to sample its cheese and dairy specialties. The offerings are clearly distinct: the Sudhaus focuses on its brewery and regional cuisine, while the dairy focuses on milk products and a tour with the opportunity to taste them.

In the surrounding area, the Beer and Cheese Hike runs between Lehern Dairy near Hopferau and the Mariahilfer Sudhaus in Speiden near Eisenberg. The themed information trail has five stops, where display boards share interesting facts about the art of brewing beer and making raw-milk cheese. The stops bring together the themes of beer and cheese along the way, while the route itself runs specifically between the places named.

The Ostallgäu as a Wider Destination

The wider destination of Ostallgäu also includes the Ostallgäu Cycling Region. It comprises regional routes that extend across the whole of Ostallgäu. The individual routes are each 25 to 76 kilometres long, consistently signposted and each have their own theme. These regional cycling options complement the local points of interest in Eisenberg with a broader perspective on Ostallgäu as a whole.

Discover more destinations: Ronsberg, Obergünzburg, Eggenthal, Marktoberdorf, Roßhaupten, Unterthingau, Seeg, Pforzen.

Go to the wider travel overview: Ostallgäu.