Welden: Churches, Ganghofer Traces and Routes

Welden offers several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: sacred architectural history, a natural monument, an exhibition and routes with their own individual focus. The parish church of the Annunciation and the Chapel of the 14 Holy Helpers explore different chapters of the town’s history. Outdoors, the Lindenallee on Theklaberg, the Weldenbahn cycle path and the Ludwig Ganghofer Rascal Trail are the main attractions. You can plan your visit according to whether you are more interested in church art, local history or outdoor activities.

Churches and historical traces

The parish church of the Annunciation stands on the site of a Romanesque church. The foundations of the choir and tower are still evidence of the earlier building. A surviving bell, dated to around 1250, bears the names Lucas, Marcus, Matheus and Johannes; it is one of the oldest bells in the district. The ceiling painting is 13.5 metres in diameter. Matthäus Günther created it in 1732 for 300 gulden. The parish church thus brings together early architectural traces and a later, precisely dated work of art.

The late Gothic Chapel of the 14 Holy Helpers stands prominently on a hill in the middle of Welden cemetery. Built in 1495, it served as a place of pilgrimage for people from Welden and the surrounding area in times of illness and hardship. In 1680, it was given a Baroque altar, Baroque furnishings and a ceiling fresco depicting Welden. The altar was destroyed by fire in 1967. The chapel’s construction date, historical role as a pilgrimage site and later Baroque features each connect it to a different period.

Lindenallee and the Ganghofer site

The Lindenallee on Theklaberg is designated a natural monument. The linden trees were planted in 1869 by the district forester at the time, August Ganghofer; they line the footpath to Thekla Church. Unlike the churches, the focus here is on the connection between the path and a landscape feature.

The Ganghofer site in Welden, which opened in 2005, is located in the Gasthof Hirsch. Its permanent exhibition, “Habitats – the Ganghofer family in the Swabian Holzwinkel,” explores the family’s life and work in and around Welden. This adds a dedicated exhibition theme to the architectural and landscape attractions. If you are planning a visit, check visiting arrangements in advance.

Cycle path and themed trail

The Weldenbahn cycle path follows the trackbed of the Welden railway, built in 1903. Away from roads, it passes through forests and fields to Aystetten, Horgau, Adelsried and Welden. The former railway line and the surrounding landscape shape the character of this route.

A different themed option is the Ludwig Ganghofer Rascal Trail, which starts in Welden and leads past Burgstall Schneeburg. At five interactive stations, you can, among other things, dig up Ludwig’s lost treasure, steal eggs like Ludwig and take in the forest from the observation tower. The two routes offer different experiences: the Weldenbahn cycle path focuses on the railway line, woods and fields, while the Rascal Trail is defined by its stations and their Ludwig Ganghofer themes.

More options in the Augsburg destination

For a broader trip around the Augsburg destination, there are further distinctive themes to explore. The Bonstetten LandArt art trail is a 5.65-kilometre circular walking route where artist Hama Lohrmann personally explains his sculptures. The three-kilometre meditation trail leads from Oberschönenfeld Abbey to Weiherhof on the edge of the forest in the Schwarzachtal valley.

The district of Augsburg has a well-developed network of cycle paths for bike tours. In the wider Augsburg destination, Westwood Alpacas offers regular alpaca walks and outings through the Augsburg – Western Woods Nature Park.

Discover more destinations

Heretsried, Ustersbach, Fischach, Augsburg, Scherstetten, Gersthofen, Aystetten, Kutzenhausen

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Augsburg.