Wolfurt Castle has shaped the town’s landscape for around 800 years. The ICH BIN pilgrimage route also runs from Wolfurt to Bildstein, with a set distance, elevation gain and walking time. Doppelmayr Zoo adds animal watching to these highlights. Wolfurt thus brings together architectural history, a named pilgrimage route and a distinct connection to wildlife, each appealing to different travel interests.
Wolfurt Castle and its history
The oldest parts of the castle complex include the tower’s basement and ground floor, which date back to the first quarter of the 13th century. The two time references describe different aspects: the 800 years refer to the castle’s influence on the landscape, while the dating to the first quarter of the 13th century refers to specific parts of the tower. This makes it possible to distinguish the castle’s long-term impact on the townscape from the construction chronology of individual components. Discover the surroundings of Wolfurt Castle, its event rooms and the outdoor area.
The ICH BIN pilgrimage route
The ICH BIN pilgrimage route leads from Wolfurt parish church through Ippach Forest and Rickenbach Gorge to the Maria Bildstein pilgrimage church; seven sandstone steles are part of the route. It is 5.1 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 385 metres and takes about two hours to walk. These three figures answer different planning questions: the distance gives the route’s length, the elevation gain adds another measure, and the approximate walking time indicates how long to allow. This makes it easy to plan the route as a separate block of time in your day. Treat the walking time as a guide, not as an exact arrival time.
Animal watching at Doppelmayr Zoo
More than 70 different animal species can be seen at Doppelmayr Zoo in Wolfurt. These include coatis, alpacas, raccoons, kangaroos and various bird species. The zoo offers a different focus from the castle and pilgrimage route: here, the focus is on watching animals rather than architectural history or a walking route. Animal populations can change. If seeing a particular species is important to you, check in advance whether it is still on display.
Vineyard on the castle slope
There is also a connection to viticulture on the castle slope: since 2023, the market town of Wolfurt has operated a vineyard there together with the Bewusstwein winery. This adds a local example of cooperation between the municipality and a winery to the castle’s history and the pilgrimage route.
Another tour with a bus connection
The tour “Via the Schneiderkopf in the Bodensee-Vorarlberg region” starts in Wolfurt. From Alberschwende, you can finish the tour with a bus ride to the starting point in Wolfurt. Before you travel, check public transport connections so you can include this journey in your plans. While walking time and elevation gain define the time frame for the ICH BIN pilgrimage route, the bus ride between Alberschwende and the starting point in Wolfurt is a practical consideration here.
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