A stone sarcophagus discovered during construction work in 1954 can be viewed in the chapel near St. Ulrich Church in Rettenbach. Together with the church and an information board on the edge of town, it offers a glimpse into the town’s ecclesiastical history and Roman burial customs.
St. Ulrich and traces of local history
Rettenbach has a parish dedicated to St. Ulrich. The high altar of St. Ulrich Church also tells of a historical occasion: the patronage family, the Barons of Riedheim, donated it to mark the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Lechfeld. The altar features an image of Ulrich by Johann Anwander of Lauingen. The donor family, occasion and artist provide several specific points of reference that can be distinguished when viewing the altar.
The chapel near the church is where visitors can view the stone sarcophagus, which was discovered during construction work in 1954. At the edge of town, an information board also invites visitors to pause briefly and provides information about Roman burial customs. Those interested in religious art or archaeology will find different points of interest: the high altar and image of Ulrich here, and information about burial customs there. The board also works as a brief stop in its own right, without implying any specific walking time between the locations.
Silbersee near Remshart
Another highlight is near Remshart, in the municipality of Rettenbach: visitors can bathe and swim at Silbersee. The water adventure area, which opened in summer 2004, offers play opportunities for children. This adds a destination for spending time by the water to the religious and historical attractions.
A walk around Silbersee takes about 35 minutes; the actual duration may vary from visitor to visitor. When choosing what to visit, the difference in themes is useful: St. Ulrich, the sarcophagus and the information board represent local history, while Silbersee near Remshart offers bathing, swimming, play opportunities and a walk around the lake.
More excursions in the wider GĂĽnzburg destination
The wider Günzburg destination offers other nature experiences with routes of varying lengths. The Hansenhohl nature trail in Thannhausen is around 1.5 kilometres long and has eight play and information stations. Visits in winter are discouraged due to the risk of slipping. The trail also has a free quiz tour, “Sabotage im Hansenhohl,” available as a crime-mystery app; check in advance whether the app is available.
For longer routes, the Günzburg destination offers other options: the DonauHänge is an 18.5-kilometre circular route between Günzburg and Offingen through woodland on the slopes. The DonAuwald hiking trail runs for around 60 kilometres between Günzburg and Schwenningen and is the first premium hiking trail in Bavarian Swabia. The distances help show that these two routes differ in scale; on their own, they do not indicate how long an individual will take to walk them.
Other destinations in the wider GĂĽnzburg area have different attractions too. At Turncable Wakepark in Thannhausen, the activities on offer include wakeboarding and water skiing. Courses are aimed at beginners and advanced participants, as well as individuals and groups. As this information comes from the current operator, check opening days and course availability in advance.
Pilgrimage sites, museums and family excursions in GĂĽnzburg
Maria Vesperbild near Ziemetshausen in the district of GĂĽnzburg attracts 400,000 to 500,000 pilgrims each year to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Sorrows and is considered the largest pilgrimage site in Bavarian Swabia. A Way of the Cross leads from the pilgrimage church to the Fatima Grotto in a nearby forest. The grotto was built in 1957 and restored in 2011; more than 1,000 votive plaques bearing words of thanks and testimonies to help received from the Mother of God stand there. This regional destination brings together religious significance, a specific route and the history of the grotto.
Ichenhausen and Burgau offer different approaches to museum visits. The Bavarian School Museum in Ichenhausen presents the development of schooling over thousands of years. Its historic rooms include a classroom that once accommodated around 50 children. The Museum of the City of Burgau, by contrast, presents the town’s history from the Middle Ages to the recent past across two floors and more than 700 square metres. The themes and presentation styles make the two museum visits distinctly different.
For a family outing, LEGOLAND® Deutschland in Günzburg is another option in the wider destination: the theme park has 11 themed areas and 68 attractions, with MINILAND at its heart. The theme park and its adjoining holiday village offer experiences for children aged 2 to 12. This makes a family-focused outing a separate option from Rettenbach’s local attractions.
Choose your accommodation based on the kind of trip you have in mind
The attractions vary in theme and scale, from a short walk by the lake to longer hiking routes and museum visits.
To the overview of the wider destination: Offingen.
