Moorland trails and peat history

You can get to know Bad Wurzach through the history of peat extraction and the landscape of the Wurzacher Ried. The Upper Swabian Peat Museum explores the history of peat extraction; peat was cut and used in many ways in Bad Wurzach for over 200 years. The Wurzacher Ried nature reserve has around 20 kilometres of marked hiking trails on paved and unpaved paths. At one and a half kilometres long, the peat trail “In the Footsteps of the Peat Cutters” is a clearly defined route that starts at the Upper Swabian Peat Museum. Comparing the two, one is a single route, while the other is a larger network of trails.

At Riedsee, hikers can walk barefoot down a staircase to a natural moorland site. There is also a Kneipp-style wading pool on the Wurzacher Ach. Both sites are along Moor Hiking Trail No. 1, so you can find two different stops along the same named route. Follow the instructions at the natural moorland site. Before setting out, also check local notices for any temporary trail closures.

Peat museum, little railway and local history

The historic peat railway runs on old narrow-gauge tracks along a newly laid, roughly one-and-a-half-kilometre route through the Wurzacher Ried. The timetable lists services from April to October, on the second Sunday and fourth Saturday of each month. As this schedule may change, check the operator’s latest information before your visit.

The town’s history also offers a range of themes. Moorland has been used in Bad Wurzach as a healing and restorative therapy since 1936. Notable surviving Baroque buildings include the Baroque staircase in the castle and the pilgrimage church on Gottesberg. The former Maria Rosengarten monastery includes a Rococo house chapel. The Baroque buildings and Rococo chapel offer distinct architectural accents.

The Bad Wurzach audio tour takes around 30 minutes and covers about 500 metres, visiting notable sights in the town and telling the stories behind the buildings on site. Check in advance whether the tour is currently available. Bad Wurzach spa park also has an adventure playground where children can play, climb and swing.

Cycling routes and hiking trails

Three of the 13 selected cycling routes in the Naturschatzkammern cycling region can be ridden directly from Bad Wurzach and pass selected sights. One specifically named tour is “Museums, Moor, More”: it starts in Bad Wurzach, follows the Wurzacher Ried to the farmhouse museum in Wolfegg, then returns to Bad Wurzach via Bad Waldsee.

Bad Wurzach is also a gateway town for hiking: it is part of the Allgäu Hiking Trilogy and, within it, the Naturschatzkammern theme area. Check the latest route information before setting out. This will help you plan among the marked trails in the Wurzacher Ried, the peat trail, a ride on the peat railway and the cycling routes on offer.

Discover more destinations: Bergatreute, Amtzell, Altshausen, Kißlegg, Wangen im Allgäu, Berg bei Ravensburg, Fronreute, Aulendorf

Back to the overview of destinations: Ravensburg.