Monastery history, church architecture and two routes with different layouts give Hohenweiler tangible starting points for a stay. The Nobelkamm hike is a circular route from Gwiggen Monastery through the forest, over bridges and along narrow paths. The Leiblachtal Route starts in Bregenz, runs along the lakeside grounds, the Pipeline and the Leiblach to Hohenweiler, and ends at St. George’s Church. This presents two clearly distinct route descriptions: a loop starting at the monastery and a route ending at St. George’s Church.

Monastery and Architectural History

Mariastern-Gwiggen Monastery traces its origins to the three Cistercian convents of Kalchrain, Feldbach and Tänikon, founded in the 13th century in the Swiss canton of Thurgau. This gives the local history a monastic connection whose origins lie in three named abbeys in Thurgau. In the context of Hohenweiler, this origin represents a different historical layer from the later building histories in the area.

The former Gwiggen castle building, with its Loreto Chapel, dates back to the 17th century. A different period is marked by the old St. George’s Chapel: from 1481 to 1513, it was expanded into a parish church. These details refer to different buildings and periods. Together, they offer distinct historical perspectives: the former castle building with its Loreto Chapel on the one hand, and the development of a chapel into a parish church on the other.

Several centuries separate these historical references: from the monastery’s origins in the 13th century, through the chapel’s expansion, to the building from the 17th century.

Two Routes with Different Layouts

The Nobelkamm hike is a circular route from Gwiggen Monastery in Hohenweiler, through the forest, over bridges and along narrow paths. The route description thus links a named starting point with specific features of the trail.

The Leiblachtal Route runs from Bregenz along the lakeside grounds, the Pipeline and the Leiblach to Hohenweiler, ending at St. George’s Church. The difference in layout is clear: the Nobelkamm hike is described as a loop starting at Gwiggen, while the Leiblachtal Route starts in Bregenz and ends at the church. You can distinguish between the routes according to whether you prefer a loop starting at the monastery or the sequence of named stops leading to the church.

Nature and Local Recreation

Hohenweiler has cycling, walking and hiking trails nearby for local recreation. Another connection with nature is the Rohrach Nature Reserve: designated in Hohenweiler and Möggers since 1992, it covers 48.19 hectares. This means that local trails and a protected area spanning both municipalities offer distinct ways to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.

Getting to the Nobelkamm Hike

To reach the Nobelkamm hike, take the train to Lochau-Hörbranz station and continue on bus route 121 or 126 to the Gwiggen stop. Before you travel, check the schedules for the listed connections for your travel dates and allow time for both legs of the journey to Gwiggen.

Discover more destinations: Schoppernau, Fußach, Bildstein, Au, Lingenau, Bregenz, Bizau, Möggers

Go to the main travel overview: Bregenz.