Discover Saulgrub

Saulgrub lies in the forest- and meadow-rich Alpine foothills between the 1,548-metre-high Hörnle to the east and the 1,396-metre-high Hochschergen to the west. Nature experiences and historical traces shape the area in different ways. If you are looking for hotels in Saulgrub, these features can help you get a sense of the destination for your stay: its attractions range from landscapes to churches and industrial history, as well as a sensory trail with two different audio tours.

Landscape around Saulgrub

The Ammer flows through the valley shaped by Saulgrub, Altenau and Wurmansau along a natural river course. The nearby Eckfilz is also a raised bog fed exclusively by precipitation. The river landscape and the bog thus offer two distinct nature experiences.

The Scheibum gorge is another defining landscape feature: at Saulgrub, it has been a protected nature reserve since 1949. Near Saulgrub, the rock cleft is described as a gorge and natural monument. It is 600 metres long and up to 80 metres deep. The Meditation Trail passes through the Ammer Gorge, the “Scheibum”, towards Bad Kohlgrub. Those interested in landscapes and trails can therefore find both a specific route and a nature reserve with a long history of protection.

Cultural traces and distinctive buildings

Parts of the Via Claudia Augusta, which connected Augsburg with Verona, can still be seen in Saulgrub today. Another historical trace is St. Francis Church: built in 1858 in the Neo-Gothic style, it was consecrated by Archbishop Gregor von Scherr on 27 August 1860. It is also the starting point of the Benedict Pilgrimage Trail in the Ammergau Alps Nature Park. The building’s history and the beginning of the trail come together here, without confusing different sights with one another.

The Kammerl railway hydroelectric power station is part of the area’s industrial heritage. It was built in the Art Nouveau style alongside the Murnau–Oberammergau railway line between 1897 and 1899. On a ridge in Saulgrub stands the small Fatima Chapel, a votive chapel overlooking the northern Ammer Valley. It was consecrated on 12 September 1954. Each of these buildings raises different points of interest: the development of a railway connection, the architecture of a church and the origins of a chapel.

The Sensory Trail and trails to choose from

The Saulgrub Sensory Trail focuses on hearing, smelling and touching, and is particularly accessible to people with visual impairments or blindness. It starts at the Saulgrub Nature Friends House. From Saulgrub train stop, the Nature Friends House can be reached via Ammergauer Straße and Achelestraße. These streets provide specific directions from the stop to the start of the Sensory Trail.

Hikers can choose between two audio tours along the trail. “Peat Hound” is aimed primarily at families; “The Bog Body of Saulgrub” offers a more in-depth tour for those interested in natural and cultural landscapes. The tours therefore differ both in their focus and in their depth: one is intended primarily for families, while the other is for people who would like to explore natural and cultural landscapes in more detail.

The Benedict Pilgrimage Trail and the Meditation Trail also have different focuses. The former begins at St. Francis Church; the latter passes through the Scheibum towards Bad Kohlgrub. This information helps you distinguish the two separate trails by their starting point and route.

Practical information for getting around

The tourist information office in Saulgrub, at Kohlgruber Straße 2, has a bicycle service station with an air pump and various tools for bicycle repairs. It is a useful point of reference for minor repairs during a cycling trip. Along with its nature and culture, this gives a varied picture of the area: you can get to know Saulgrub through its landscapes, historic buildings and attractions such as the Sensory Trail.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bad Bayersoien, Riegsee, Grainau, Oberau, Uffing am Staffelsee, Wallgau, Ettal, Mittenwald.

Return to the main travel overview: Garmisch-Partenkirchen.