Walking in the Allgäu
Waterways in the west Allgäu
Following the course of the water is an enchanting and mystical experience
"Tranquil pools and idyllic little lakes, deep wells and hidden springs, historic mills and ancient timberworks, mighty weirs and overgrown ditches, deep canals and little rivulets, splashing streams and roaring waterfalls.
Take the children paddling in the rock pools, build boats from branches and little dams using stones. Follow secluded paths from the source of the stream down steep mountain gulleys, through dark forest and sunlit clearings out into the sunlit meadows. Or simply sit beside the water and enjoy the peace and tranquillity.”
Kneipp circuit
Kneipp viewpoints, on what is arguably the loveliest panoramic walk on Rodersbühl in the Westallgäu, offer the walker not only fabulous views of the Allgäu and Austrian Alps, but also a stunning panorama out across Lake Constance to the Swiss Appenzellerland, the southern foothills of the Black Forest and the Württemberg lowlands. A series of information boards, collected and chosen by chairman Erwin Obernaus, contain jokes, proverbs and anecdotes from walkers and passers-by. Also on the boards are pearls of worldly wisdom, tips and suggestions from Rev. Kneipp on how to develop a healthy life style.
Chapel footpath
In ancient times people used to walk from the source of one river to another, looking for a place to rest and grazing land for their herds. In later times the site of each spring was marked by a chapel, enabling travellers to progress from source to source, and from chapel to chapel. The thermal spa Kneipp and health resort of Scheidegg has 13 chapels in the immediate vicinity, among them the oecumenical chapel of St. Hubertus (picture), and each of these chapels is a little jewel in its own right. All the chapels are linked to the catholic parish church of St. Gallus, the evangelical church of the Resurrection and the Kreuzberg with its renowned hilltop path by means of the shorter and the longer “oecumenical chapel trails” Walking here provides therapy for the body and peace for the soul.
The Westallgäu Santiago pilgrimage trail
A detailed brochure describing each individual stage of the Westallgäu Santiago pilgrimage trail (Stiefenhofen – Weiler – Lindenberg/Scheidegg) can be downloaded here as a pdf document.
Insider tip: a mountain adventure on the Hochgrat
At a height of 1,834 metres, the Hochgrat is the highest mountain in the western Allgäu and provides an exciting outdoor destination for all interests and abilities. The Hochgrat is located in the heart of the Nagelfluhkette Nature Reserve, which straddles the border between Germany (Allgäu) and Austria (Vorarlberg). The aim of the Nature Reserve is to uphold the unique natural and cultural heritage of the area and to promote sustainable tourism.