The stage altar in the Studienkirche and the signposted Kneipp circular trail highlight two different aspects of Dillingen a.d.Donau: architectural history in the urban landscape and exercise between the old town, park, floodplain forest and Danube. If you would like to combine several experiences, you can choose between historic buildings, a museum, a public city tour and outdoor routes, depending on whether culture or exercise is your priority.
Art and history in Dillingen
The Studienkirche was built between 1610 and 1617 and is considered the city’s most valuable building in terms of art history. Its stage altar, created around 1760 by Johann Anwander (1715–1770), is one of the few surviving stage altars in Germany. It opens each year during the week before Palm Sunday. If you would like to experience this special insight, you can take the timing into account when planning your trip.
Dillingen Castle tells the story of several centuries of local history. Its oldest sections date back to the 13th-century Hohenstaufen period; in the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle was transformed into a fortified castle. For centuries, it was the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg. Königstraße, formerly known as “Herrengasse,” reveals another layer of history: its 17th- and 18th-century façades form a well-preserved ensemble.
The Dillingen City and Prince-Bishopric Museum is located at Hafenmarkt in two historic buildings: the Unteres Stiftshaus and the Angerer-Haus. It illustrates the city’s history and, with its provincial Roman and Alemannic collections, also documents the history of the surrounding area. This extends the historical perspective beyond individual buildings to the collections and their regional context.
If you would like to explore several places as part of a single outing, you can plan to join a public city tour covering general local history. It runs every Sunday from April to October at 2:00 p.m. and includes the Golden Hall, the Studienkirche, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Franciscan Sisters’ Church and the castle. As tour details may change, it is advisable to check the specific date before your visit.
Kneipp trails and outdoor activities
The natural Kneipp facility on the Danube invites you to try Kneipp hydrotherapy. The site is associated with a historical account: Sebastian Kneipp is said to have recovered from a serious illness here in November 1849. Those interested in the history of Kneipp therapy will find a specific place linked to this account.
The two-part Kneipp circular trail is signposted. Nine information panels accompany the section through the historic old town and Taxispark, while four more mark the route through the floodplain forest to the Danube. The two sections pass through different settings: from the historic urban area and park to the floodplain forest and river.
In the floodplain forest, the shorter running route loops around the small Silbersee. It is suitable for walking, jogging, cycling and Nordic walking. There is also a fitness trail with more than 20 stations and two running routes up to 3,000 metres long. This means the floodplain forest offers different options: a loop around the lake, a trail with stations and running routes.
For a hike, the DonAuwald Familie route includes an approximately 13-kilometre stage from Lauingen to Dillingen. If you would rather travel by bike, the 202-kilometre Mozartrunde offers a much longer route option: it runs from Dillingen via Donauwörth, Oettingen and Nördlingen and back to Dillingen. The approximate length of the hiking stage and the circular layout of the cycling route help you compare the different options. Before setting out, check the latest route information, as details, signposting or the route itself may change.
Discover more destinations: Bissingen, Bachhagel, Buttenwiesen, Holzheim, Wertingen, Höchstädt, Lauingen, Gundelfingen An Der Donau
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