Schmiechen can be explored through its pilgrimage and route history. The Way of the Cross ends at Maria Kappel Pilgrimage Church, at the 15th station. The “Maria Kappel in Schmiechen” circular hiking trail is just under 4 km long and partly follows the old pilgrims’ route.

Pilgrimage and Circular Route in Schmiechen

The circular route also passes the Hyazinth Chapel and the remains of a castle that was likewise owned by the Fugger family. At just under 4 km, its length is a useful comparison when weighing up a local loop against a longer hiking route.

More Trails and Culture in the Wider Aichach-Friedberg Destination

The wider Aichach-Friedberg destination offers hiking and cycling options on a different scale. The Paartal hiking trail follows the middle Paar from Aichach to Gut Schenkenau in the district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen and is 36.8 km long in total. Compared with the loop in Schmiechen, which is just under 4 km long, it is considerably longer and has named endpoints, while the local trail is described as a circular hiking route. The length and route type help distinguish a local loop from a longer hiking trail. The Aichach-Friedberg district cycling map features 14 well-signposted themed cycling routes. The brochure “Hiking Aichach – The Most Beautiful Walks Around Aichach” presents 15 walks and hiking trails in and around Aichach. While the map and brochure bring together several routes, the Paartal hiking trail is a single route. Check the current conditions on your chosen route before setting out.

The cultural history of the wider Aichach-Friedberg destination is also rooted in various places. Aichach’s historic old town has changed little over the centuries. The Lower Gate houses the Wittelsbach Museum, while the town museum vividly recounts Aichach’s history. The Wittelsbachs’ ancestral castle stood in Oberwittelsbach, a district of Aichach. Sisi Castle in Unterwittelsbach served Duke Max in Bavaria as a hunting lodge.

In Friedberg, the focus is on Rococo and medieval history: Herrgottsruh Pilgrimage Church was built between 1731 and 1753 and is considered one of the finest works of Bavarian Rococo. Friedberg’s Wittelsbach Castle originated as a High Medieval castle built around 1257 under Duke Ludwig II the Strict. Another connection to pilgrimage can be found at the Inchenhofen Pilgrimage Museum, housed in Haus St. Leonhard, a former brewery building belonging to the Cistercians. The museum displays iron and wax votive offerings, ploughshares, horseshoes, and neck and hand shackles. It documents the importance of Saint Leonhard and St. Leonhard Church as a much-visited pilgrimage destination.

If a regional cultural theme is the deciding factor, look to the place named for it.

Discover more destinations: Aichach, Baar, Kissing, Aindling, Ried, Petersdorf, Affing, Dasing.

Back to the wider travel overview: Aichach-Friedberg.