Waltenhofen on Lake Niedersonthofen

Lake Niedersonthofen, trails for different seasons and distinctive churches shape the leisure and cultural attractions in Waltenhofen. You can plan your stay around activities on the water, outdoor pursuits in the countryside or the history of the town’s districts. There are also special options in winter—some of which depend on seasonal conditions.

Lake Niedersonthofen and outdoor trails

Lake Niedersonthofen in Waltenhofen is ideal for swimming, rowing, sailing, surfing and fishing. The circular trail around the lake offers views of lakes and mountains and is suitable for walking, Nordic walking and jogging. This gives you several ways to get active: activities directly on or by the water, or a route to explore on foot or at a jog.

The “Niedersonthofener See” landscape conservation area covers the lake and its surroundings in the areas of Waltenhofen, Memhölz, Martinszell and Niedersonthofen. The circular trail and the protected area describe different aspects of the same landscape: the trail offers a way to experience the surroundings actively, while the protected area encompasses the lake and the named localities.

If you prefer to get around by bike, the Waltenhofen Lake Loop offers a different route. It starts in Waltenhofen, crosses the hills of the western uplands to a group of lakes, then returns to the starting point along the banks of the Iller. The sequence of hills, lakes and riverbanks gives the loop a different character from the trail immediately around Lake Niedersonthofen.

Winter trails, cross-country skiing and sledding

Waltenhofen has more than 60 kilometres of excellently groomed cross-country ski trails. Well-maintained winter hiking trails are also available. Conditions on the trails can vary seasonally, so check them before planning your trip. This makes cross-country skiing and winter hiking two distinct ways to spend time outdoors.

A 2-kilometre sledding run adds to the winter activities. Its availability depends on winter conditions. Horse-drawn sleigh rides are also offered, but only seasonally. If you plan to include these activities in your stay, take the relevant winter-season conditions into account.

Churches, local districts and history

The parish church of St. Martin in Waltenhofen is a late Baroque building dating from 1770. In Niedersonthofen, the Church of St. Alexander and George stands in the village centre and is considered probably the district’s most significant Late Gothic church. The two buildings thus represent different periods: St. Martin for the late Baroque and St. Alexander and George for the Late Gothic.

Customs and traditions play an important role in the local districts of Waltenhofen, Martinszell, Memhölz, Niedersonthofen, Hegge, Lanzen, Oberdorf and Rauns.

Nearby, the ruins of the residential tower of the once-large Langenegg castle complex can be found. As a medieval landmark, it is a popular destination in the Oberallgäu. The surviving residential tower connects a glimpse into regional history with a destination beyond the Waltenhofen attractions described here.

More destinations in the Oberallgäu

The wider Oberallgäu travel region offers other distinct attractions. Oberstdorf has 200 kilometres of hiking trails and nature trails. The Heini-Klopfer ski flying hill can be visited there; visitors can take the tower lift to the viewing platform on the ski jump tower. Hiking and visiting the ski jump are two different ways to explore Oberstdorf.

The Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Centre is in Immenstadt-Bühl, right by Lake Alpsee. Its free-entry interactive exhibition explores animals, plants, their habitats and the special features of the protected area. From Immenstadt station, you can reach the centre on foot in 30 minutes via the “Achis Wasserweg” themed trail. In bad weather, buses 39, 11 and 81 go there; check the timetable before travelling.

Visitors to the Oberallgäu can also explore the Breitach Gorge on well-maintained, secured trails. Trail conditions can vary seasonally. There is an information exhibition at the gorge entrance. Nature and information thus complement each other, while Waltenhofen has its own focus on Lake Niedersonthofen, its trails and its churches.

Discover more destinations: Hegge, Kempten, Obermaiselstein, Bolsterlang, Oy-Mittelberg, Oberstdorf, Fischen im Allgäu, Wildpoldsried.

Back to the overview of the wider travel region: Oberallgäu.