The Schimmelturm, the Roman temple complex in Faimingen and a section of the DonAUwald hiking trail offer different cultural, historical and scenic perspectives on Lauingen (Donau). The options range from a prominent landmark in the town center to an ancient sanctuary and an 8.1-kilometer hiking route to Dillingen. You can focus your stay on the town’s history or make a hiking section its own main activity.
The Schimmelturm and Lauingen’s history
The Schimmelturm is a distinctive landmark in the center of Lauingen. It was built from 1457 to 1478, providing a clearly dated reference point in the town’s late medieval history. Alongside Faimingen’s much older Roman heritage, the tower shows that Lauingen offers a chance to explore several different historical periods. Anyone interested in medieval architecture will find a specific point of interest in the town center; Faimingen, in turn, draws attention to antiquity.
The Apollo-Grannus temple complex in Faimingen
The temple complex of the Apollo-Grannus Temple was built in the Faimingen area toward the end of the 2nd century AD. Faimingen is now a district of Lauingen. The ancient site can be explored on site through a partial reconstruction and virtually. Four information panels in the temple area cover the province of Raetia, Roman Faimingen, the sanctuary and the god Apollo Grannus. The information thus leads from the broader Roman context to the place, the temple and its deity. If you want to put Lauingen’s history in chronological context, you can mentally compare the temple complex with the Schimmelturm, built much later: the two sites represent widely separated eras.
Brunnental: settlement, town wall and waterways
Brunnental adds a story in which urban development and landscape are intertwined to these historical sites. It developed from a settlement of craftspeople between the Staufer town wall and the banks of the Danube. The waterways there shaped the settlement. Brunnental can therefore be described in terms of more than just its location: its origins link crafts with the town’s fortifications and the waterways that shaped the area. This offers a different perspective on Lauingen than the single striking tower or the ancient sanctuary in Faimingen.
A hiking section from Lauingen to Dillingen
As an alternative to focusing on architecture and town history, an 8.1 km section of the DonAUwald premium hiking trail runs from Lauingen to Dillingen. The route offers a clearly defined stretch for hiking and a different way to spend your stay. You can treat it as a main activity in its own right alongside the historical sites, rather than trying to fit every stop into a single sightseeing plan.
The DonAUwald and other options in the region
In the wider destination of Dillingen An Der Donau, the DonAUwald hiking trail runs for just under 60 kilometers through the riverine forests along the Danube; 40 kilometers of it are in Dillingen district. The trail is Bavarian Swabia’s first premium hiking trail. All five classic stages are accessible by train. This places the Lauingen–Dillingen section within a longer regional hiking option. If you plan to take the train for a stage, check the relevant timetable before your trip.
Another regional option is Donautal-Radelspaß. It takes place every two years on a weekend in September; the central event is held in Dillingen district. Three signposted routes, closed to cars, lead visitors on culinary and cultural excursions. If you include this event in your travel plans, check the dates for the relevant event weekend. This way, you can choose between Lauingen’s historic sites, the hiking section and a regional event based on what you want to focus on.
Discover more destinations: Wertingen, Buttenwiesen, Bissingen, Holzheim, Gundelfingen An Der Donau, Höchstädt, Bachhagel, Dillingen An Der Donau
Back to the main travel overview: Dillingen An Der Donau.
