Wemding: Old Town, Art and Trails at the Ries Crater

Wemding lies on the edge of the Ries Crater. The town combines a historic old town with art, pilgrimage sites and trails through forests and countryside. You can choose from a range of activities during your stay: a walk to local sights, a longer themed route or a closer look at the surrounding geology.

Old Town and Architectural History

During the annual Fuchsia and Herb Market, Wemding’s picturesque old town turns into a large, blooming garden. The market is considered Germany’s only fuchsia market. Historic buildings also shape the townscape outside this special event: the Amerbach Gate is now a 30.5-metre-high gate tower and the only surviving gate of the former fortifications. Until the 19th century, a mighty gate castle with a barbican, outer ward and drawbridge stood there. Wemding also has a medieval town wall dating from the 14th century.

The twin-towered parish church of St. Emmeram traces its origins to a vow made by Mangold I of Wörth. Construction of a basilica, probably with three naves and a cross-shaped layout, began in 1030; several alterations and extensions were added over the centuries. The Baroque high altar by Augustin Manasser was created between 1630 and 1633. The birthplace of Leonhart Fuchs stands in the market square and is known as the “Dwarf’s House”: its front facing the square is 1.50 metres wide, while its side façade is nine metres long.

Museums, Art and Pilgrimage

The Donau-Ries Art Museum in Wemding displays, among other works, paintings and sculptures by Ernst Steinacker, Prof. Caspar Schlötter and Annette Steinacker-Holst. This art and cultural project includes guided tours, concerts, readings and theatre. A multimedia room introduces visitors to new forms of artistic expression. The local history museum has a different focus: it covers prehistory, early history and the town’s history, as well as clothing, traditional costumes, crafts and popular religious culture.

The devotional path links the historic old town with the pilgrimage basilica of “Maria Brünnlein zum Trost.” On the final section, six devotional stones dating from 1983 line the route. The path offers a way to experience the different facets of Wemding: its history, religious sites and public art.

Walks and Themed Trails

For a short introduction to the town, there is a historic walk of around one hour and approximately two kilometres. A dedicated leaflet explains individual sights. The Legends Trail takes longer: it is 14 kilometres long and takes about four hours. It starts at the Johannisweiher pond. The route follows a sculpture trail lined with fruit trees through Wemding’s old town and back to the starting point. The two routes differ considerably in length and the time they take.

Those who want to focus on the forest can visit the Wemding Forest Discovery Trail in the Schneetal Nature Forest Reserve. The circular trail is about 3.5 kilometres long; along the way, visitors can experience the forest and nature with all their senses. Schneetal is one of Bavaria’s first nature forest reserves. East of Wolferstädter Straße, there are also four landscaped rest areas for forest bathing. They are located in a forest officially designated by the Bavarian Forestry Administration as “Forest of Particular Importance for Recreation.”

Forest, Views and the Ries Landscape

In the Wemding Forest, the Schwefelbrünnlein spring sits in a forest clearing and serves as a rest stop for walkers and cyclists. Another link to the area’s geological history is the Waldsee limestone quarry, an old quarry near the Wemding Waldsee lake. There, visitors can see the effects of the Ries catastrophe. For a view of the town and surrounding area, the Wemding Plateau offers a different perspective: this hilltop on the northern edge of town opens up a panorama of Wemding and the Ries.

The Wemding Rose Garden offers a quieter experience, with old roses in a historic setting. Together with the forest trails and geological points of interest, it offers a wide range of options for planning a day out. The wider Donau-Ries destination provides a regional context: Donau-Ries District describes the Geopark Ries, with the Ries Crater formed by a meteorite impact, as a tourist attraction.

Discover more destinations: Fünfstetten, Wallerstein, Nördlingen, Marxheim, Oettingen in Bavaria, Mertingen, Asbach-Bäumenheim, Rain.

Back to the regional travel overview: Donau-Ries.