Öhningen combines monastic history, art and hiking trails with cultural sites in Kattenhorn, Schienen and Wangen. When choosing where to stay, it helps to first decide what matters most to you: should your trip focus on the history of the former monastery, Neolithic finds or a hike? The lido offers a different kind of experience. Choose places and activities according to your interests rather than treating them as one single itinerary.
Monastic history, churches and Schienen
Öhningen Monastery was founded in 965 and remained an Augustinian canonry until it was dissolved during secularisation in 1803. The former collegiate church is now the Catholic parish church of St. Hippolytus and Verena; it was built in the late Renaissance style. Guided tours of the entire monastery grounds are held regularly. Check the dates in advance.
Above Kattenhorn stands the Protestant St. Peter’s Church, with large stained-glass windows based on designs by Otto Dix. In Schienen, the miraculous image “Mary and Child” is the focus of a centuries-old Marian pilgrimage. The wooden sculpture dates from 1430. Also in Schienen, the annual “Translation Festival” commemorates mystical events from the past.
Another way to explore local history is to follow the history trail through Öhningen. It was established in 2005 to mark the 850th anniversary and introduces visitors to key points in the town’s history. It complements the story of the monastery with other aspects of local history.
Archaeology and remembrance in Wangen
The Fischerhaus Museum in Wangen displays a selection of Neolithic finds from the pile-dwelling bay of Wangen at Hinterhorn. There is a small exhibition in the pile-dwelling house by the museum. Information panels from the Institute for Wetland and Underwater Archaeology of the State Office for Monument Preservation in Hemmenhofen introduce visitors to the history of Stone Age people. This section focuses on the finds and how they are classified as Stone Age artefacts.
The Jacob Picard Memorial is located in Wangen’s old town hall and offers a different cultural focus. On request, the Fischerhaus Museum hosts children’s birthday parties featuring archery, Stone Age crafts, a dugout canoe and Stone Age flatbread. Check current availability directly with the museum.
Compare the lido and hiking trails
Öhningen’s lido has a sandy beach, a children’s playground, table tennis tables, a diving tower and a beach volleyball court. Facilities may change; check the current information before your visit.
Two moderately difficult trails of different lengths and with different destinations are available for planning a hike. The Höri Adventure Trail runs for 7.1 kilometres from Öhningen via the Klingenbach Gorge to Wangen. The cross-border Öhningen–Stein am Rhein Adventure Trail is 7.5 kilometres long. Both trails are considered moderately difficult; the first is 400 metres shorter, while the second leads to Stein am Rhein. Check local conditions before setting out.
Plan connections and your journey
Route 201 connects Radolfzell, Moos, Schienen and Öhningen. Bus routes and timetables may change, so check the connection with the transport operator before travelling. The scheduled services of the Untersee and Rhine Shipping Company from the jetties in Öhningen and Wangen are listed as heading towards Reichenau Island and Konstanz, as well as Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen. Check the timetables when planning your trip. There is a floating pier at Oberstaad Harbour.
Discover more destinations: Wangen, Konstanz, Eigeltingen, Büsingen Am Hochrhein, Steißlingen, Gailingen Am Hochrhein, Orsingen-Nenzingen, Mühlhausen-Ehingen.
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