Niederrieden: Lourdes Grotto, Church and Routes

When looking for a hotel in Niederrieden, start by considering what makes the town a destination: the Lourdes Grotto and its history, St. George’s Parish Church, and routes that pass through Niederrieden. The wider destination of Unterallgäu offers additional nature, culture and culinary experiences. When planning your stay around your own reason for travelling, distinguish between local points of interest and regional offerings.

Lourdes Grotto and St. George’s Parish Church

The Lourdes Grotto in Niederrieden was donated by Josefa and Franz Abrell. Their pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1885 preceded it; the grotto was blessed on September 8, 1887. This sequence links the donors’ journey with the later blessing and gives the religious site a clear historical context.

A free, approximately 30-minute guided tour of St. George’s Parish Church is listed as a visitor option; it must be booked at least one day in advance. Arrange a time before your visit.

Routes through Niederrieden

The West Way of St. James is a pilgrimage hike from Boos to Memmingen that passes the Niederrieden Grotto, with a short stop there. The Große Unterallgäu-Tour also passes through Niederrieden. Check current route conditions before setting out.

Getting oriented in the wider destination of Unterallgäu

In the wider destination of Unterallgäu, the Iller to the west and the Wertach to the east form natural boundaries. The Unterallgäu is served by the A7 and A96 motorways; a dense road network, rail connections and Allgäu Airport in Memmingerberg add to the region’s accessibility. Cycling and hiking trails throughout the district are uniformly signposted; there are also the Glückswege.

Nature trails in the Unterallgäu

The Benninger Ried is considered easy to explore on foot; visitor facilities include a dedicated nature trail and an observation platform. In Bad Grönenbach, a 3.2-kilometre forest discovery trail introduces visitors to the forest ecosystem. The 2.7-kilometre Buxheim Forest Discovery Trail loops around Buxheimer Weiher and is designed to let visitors experience nature with all their senses. In the Bannwald forest in Ottobeuren, eleven stations lead visitors along the forest discovery trail. The regional routes therefore differ in focus: observing nature, experiencing the forest or following a loop around the pond.

Culture and culinary experiences in the Unterallgäu

Among the Unterallgäu’s notable architectural monuments are the Baroque basilica in Ottobeuren and Mindelburg Castle in Mindelheim. The former Imperial Charterhouse in Buxheim is known for its choir stalls; Fugger Castle in Kirchheim is home to the world-famous Cedar Hall. The castle courtyard at Mindelburg is open year-round. The keep, converted into an observation tower, is open from April to October; check seasonal opening times before your visit.

In the monastery’s east wing, the Sebastian Kneipp Museum documents the life and work of the priest through more than 2,000 exhibits. Bad Wörishofen is one of the Unterallgäu’s Kneipp health resorts, while Ottobeuren is a Kneipp spa town. Bad Wörishofen also hosts the Culinary Mile twice a year, in spring and autumn. Numerous food stalls serve freshly prepared dishes; individual menus may vary. Plan your visit around the specific event dates.

Discover more destinations: Buxheim, Rammingen, Erkheim, Kirchheim in Schwaben, Ettringen, Sontheim, Dirlewang, Ottobeuren.

Go to the wider travel overview: Unterallgäu.