Discover Raisting: Radome, Circular Trail and Church Art

Raisting has a clear focus for anyone interested in the history of technology: the Radome and the former earth station. There is also a hiking trail with information panels and views of the Alps, St. Remigius Church and a local history museum. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you are most interested in experiencing the technological monument, the church architecture, or a combination of technology and a walk.

The History of Technology at the Radome

The Raisting Radome is a listed satellite ground station on Lake Ammersee. It is one of Germany’s monuments of national importance and is considered the birthplace of satellite telecommunications in Europe. It was built in 1963/64 to plans by Hans Maurer, commissioned by the Deutsche Bundespost. The earth station was used for intercontinental telephone and television communications via communications satellites until 1985.

The construction period and the end of its former function mark different stages in the history of the site: the Radome was built in the mid-1960s, while satellite communications there continued to be used for telephone and television until 1985. A visit therefore focuses not only on the form and function of an industrial monument, but also on the history of communications that connected continents.

Hiking Trail Between Antennas and Alpine Views

In the wider Weilheim-Schongau travel region, the approximately five-kilometre Earth Station Hiking Trail starts at Raisting railway station. The circular route passes through the earth station, by the large satellite dishes and the industrial monument Radome with its historic Antenna 1. Three information panels cover satellite communications technology, its history and the current work of the antennas located there. The trail combines a walk with insights into the technology that shapes the townscape.

One stop along the trail is the former pilgrimage chapel of St. John the Baptist, where you can take a break. The chapel offers views of the Alpine range. The Earth Station Hiking Trail is free to access at any time and is independent of the Radome’s opening hours. Check local notices before setting out. The Radome itself is within walking distance of Raisting railway station, which is also the starting point of the circular route.

Inside Visit, Circular Trail or Guided Tour

The Radome and the hiking trail have different visiting arrangements. During opening hours, you can visit the Radome independently and without prior registration. Check the current opening hours before your visit. The hiking trail can be explored independently, so a walk is not tied to the building’s opening hours.

Anyone wishing to learn about the antenna facility as part of a guided tour can book outdoor tours of the earth station at any time, covering all the antennas, including the industrial monument Radome. The contact person is association member Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Hermann Martin, an eyewitness and expert. Confirm the availability of the tour before your trip. This gives you three different options: the free circular trail, an independent indoor visit during opening hours, and a bookable outdoor tour.

St. Remigius and the Local History Museum

St. Remigius complements the technology theme with architectural and church history. The present church building was constructed in 1692/96 by Michael Natter of Vorarlberg, master builder of the Dießen monastery. Today, the interior conveys an elegant Late Rococo sense of space. Compared with the Radome, built in 1963/64, the church represents a much earlier period. Two of Raisting’s cultural themes thus differ both in their date of origin and in character.

The local history museum of the Raisting-Sölb Local History and Traditional Costume Association offers another theme. It occupies seven rooms in the former rectory. Together with the church’s architectural history and the technological monument, it broadens the options for a stay that takes in Raisting’s architectural and local history as well as the Radome.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pähl, Schongau, Weilheim in Upper Bavaria, Peiting, Hohenpeißenberg, Bernbeuren, Penzberg, Altenstadt.

To the regional travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.