What to do in Landsberg am Lech, Germany – Romantic Road

In this guide we include tips on what to do, accommodation, tourist attractions, restaurants and other information for your best visit to Landsberg am Lech in Bavaria, state of Germany. Including the prison where Adolf Hitler was imprisoned and wrote his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) and the construction that many say inspired Rapunzel’s Tower, from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

A travel itinerary to Landsberg am Lech can be part of planning to get to know the entire Romantic Road in Germany, the best known tourist route in the country, or even a weekend or holiday day trip.

We write about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out.

Where is the city of Landsberg am Lech in Germany

Landsberg am Lech is a city in Germany, capital of the Landsberg district in the administrative region of Upper Bavaria, state of Bavaria.

Landsberg am Lech is 63 km from Munich (approximately 55 minutes drive). I haven’t taken the train to the city yet, but you can search for an option on the Deutsch Bahn. Taking the capital of the country as a reference, it is 610 km from Berlin and even though it is far away, it is possible to go by car (approx. 6h15min), in relation to other cities, it is 204 km from Stuttgart (approx. 2h15min) and 407 km from Frankfurt (approx. 4h15min).

As you can see, we are getting closer to the city of Munich, which becomes the best option in terms of origin and stay for your visit. If you want to go by train from Munich, the journey takes approximately 1 hour (see the route on Google Maps).

How to go to Landsberg am Lech in Germany

The best way to travel in Germany and get to Landsberg am Lech is very much up to you. We alternated a lot between using the country’s excellent railway network and also taking advantage of the no less excellent German roads and highways (who has never heard of the Autobahns with no speed limit, right?).

If you want to go by train from Munich, the journey takes approximately 1 hour.

Read our Best travel tips for Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

Romantic Road in Germany (Romantische Straße)

The German Romantic Route is the name given to a travel itinerary in southern Germany that crosses the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It passes through 460 kilometers and 29 cities, starting in Würzburg to Füssen (where the famous Neuschwanstein Castle) linking various historic attractions and picturesque castles.

Landsberg am Lech is part of the suggested itinerary and we have a complete and well-detailed travel guide with tips on how to get to know Germany’s Romantic Road, be sure to check it out.

Suggestions for activities and tours in the city of Landsberg am Lech and other destinations on the German Romantic Road:

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Where to stay in Landsberg am Lech in Germany – Hotel, hostel and Bed & Breakfast

Although it is not very common to choose the city of Landsberg am Lech as a base to visit the Romantic Route (it is very more common for example to stay in Munich and take a day trip), there are many good options for accommodation.

The best rated hotels in Landsberg am Lech, close to the city center and that you can analyze to choose where to stay are :

• Landhotel Endhart
  • Erpftinger Str.19, 86899 Landsberg am Lech, Germany
  • 8.6 – Fabulous out of 981 reviews
  • Guest Reviews: A lovely hotel. Too bad it was only one night. Breakfast is plentiful and excellent and the room where it is served is beautiful. It was great and we want to come back and we recommend it.

• Hotel Waitzingers
  • Waitzinger Wiese 2, 86899 Landsberg am Lech, Germany
  • 8.0 – Very good out of 263 ratings
  • Guest comments: Cleanliness, friendliness, very nice restaurant, good food, fantastic breakfast. Easy access.

• Pension Chapeau
  • Alte Bergstraße 405, 86899 Landsberg am Lech, Germany
  • 9.6 – Exceptional out of 195 ratings
  • Guest Comments: Good facilities, very friendly and helpful owner. the central location (near the main square), an excellent breakfast, many options for tours

• Zweite Heimat Privatpension
  • Alte Bergstr. 451, 86899 Landsberg am Lech, Germany
  • 9.1 – Fantastic out of 247 reviews
  • Guest Comments: The old house has a history. The owner is very friendly and courteous. Speaks several languages, which allows us to communicate easily.

• Arthotel ANA Goggl
  • Hubert von Herkomer Str. 19/20, 86899 Landsberg am Lech, Germany
  • 8.1 – Very good out of 1,628 ratings
  • Guest Reviews: Spacious, good bed, clean and excellent breakfast, central location.

There are many other options for accommodation in hotels, hostels and inns, be sure to check it out at Booking.com page.

Things to do in Landsberg am Lech in Germany

Around 1135, a settlement called Phetine in what later became the town of Landsberg was mentioned in a document, but did not yet have town rights. In 1158, Duke Henry the Lion transferred the important Salt Road to a more southerly route, building a bridge over the Lech near Phetine. Previously, the Salzstraße crossed the river at Kaufering via a ford. To protect this bridge, he built a new, larger system, called “Castrum Landespurch”, including Phetine Castle. The castle was on the one hand the Vogtburg of the monastery of Wessobrunn (now the district of Weilheim-Schongau) and on the other hand the protection of the border with the Bishopric of Augsburg.

A rapidly growing settlement arose under the protection of this castle, which received city rights as early as the 13th century and was soon called “Landesperch”. The town of Landsberg am Lech of today developed from this.

In 1320, the city was granted the right to levy taxes on salt. In this way, the city achieved considerable prosperity through the so-called salt coin. In addition to Sal, the city grew rich with the grain and wood trade.

In 1429, Duke Ernst granted the city’s coat of arms, which is still valid today.

Landsberg played a special role in National Socialism due to the prison Adolf Hitler served here. In 1924 he wrote his book Mein Kampf while in prison. From 1937 to 1945, Landsberg am Lech consolidated itself as “Hitler’s cell” alongside Munich and Nuremberg, being the third central site of National Socialism. It became known as a meeting place for the Hitler Youth when it received the title “Landsberg – City of Youth”.

In 1944, at the end of World War II, the Kaufering satellite camp complex was built with eleven sites around Landsberg and Kaufering as the largest concentration camp complex in the German Reich.

Despite the central importance of the city during National Socialism and the military installations that were located nearby (including Penzing Air Base since 1935) or within the city area (e.g. Saarburg barracks), the city of Landsberg am Lech was one of the few in Germany that was spared from Allied air attacks.

In 1945, many of the Jewish survivors of the concentration camps around Landsberg am Lech were uprooted and made homeless. Many times they had lost their relatives or did not know where they had gone. Thousands of these displaced people were housed and cared for by the Allies in Landsberg. Jewish survivors referred to themselves as “She’erit Hapletah” – the rest of the rescued.

On January 1, 2002, the spelling of the name was officially changed from “Landsberg a.Lech” to “Landsberg am Lech”.

Landsberg Concentration Camp and Displaced Persons Camp

Landsberg Camp began as a Nazi concentration camp. By October 1944, there were over 5,000 prisoners in the camp.

The camp was liberated on April 27, 1945 by the US Army’s 12th Armored Division. Under orders from General Taylor, American forces allowed the media to record the atrocities and ordered civilians and local German guards to reflect on the dead and bury them empty-handed. A dramatization of the discovery and liberation of the camp was featured in “Episode 9 – Why We Fight” of the miniseries Band of Brothers.

After liberation, it became a Displaced Persons (DP) Camp, mainly for Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union and the Baltic states. The DP camp closed on October 15, 1950.

Since 1983, Anton Posset and the association called “Landsberg im 20 Jahrhundert” are working so that this part of history is not forgotten. They established, based on donations, the European Holocaust Memorial in the former Kaufering VII concentration camp.

Top tourist attractions

The most interesting tourist attractions that can be included in your travel itinerary in Landsberg am Lech are:

• • Hauptplatz der Altstadt (Central square in the old town of Landsberg am Lech)
    • • The historic city has a number of important buildings worth seeing, especially around Hauptplatz, the central square.
    • • Start by admiring the Schmalzturm, a Baroque-style tower from the 12th century and one of the main entrances to the city. On its top you can see a clock, in addition to very beautiful details.
    • • In the center of the square is the Marienbrunnen, the central fountain built around 1700 and worth a lot of photos.
    • • Finally, it is impossible not to mention the Alte Rathaus, the old city hall, with a magnificent Rococo facade by Dominikus Zimmermann.

• • Stadtpfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt (Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
    • • The Stadtpfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt dominates the old town of Landsberg, close to the main square. The originally Gothic church building was redesigned in the Baroque style around 1708. Inside there is a high Baroque splendor to which Matthias Stiller and Jörg Pfeifer contributed.

• • Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche (Church of the Holy Cross)
    • • The Church of the Sacra Cruz built in 1752-54 together with a Jesuit monastery stands out for its dominant height over the city. Its architecture has a rich Baroque and Rococo setting with stucco ornaments and frescoes, paintings and fine woodwork in the confessionals. It also houses a former Jesuit school.

• • Bayertor (Bavarian Gate)
    • • The old town is surrounded by three city walls, many of which are still well preserved. Along the way are Dachlturm and Sandauer Tor in the north, Bäckertor and Färbertor in the west, and Nonnentörl and Jungfernsprung in the south.
    • • The highlight of Landsberg’s city fortifications, however, is the Bayertor in the east, built in 1425 and one of the most impressive and beautiful city gates in southern Germany.
    • • It is the largest (and considered by many, the most beautiful) Late Gothic gate in Germany, its observation deck is 36 meters high.

• • Mutterturm (Mother Tower)
    • • The tower is located in a small park on the west bank of the river Lech. It was built by the painter, sculptor, musician, writer and pioneer of motor racing in Germany, Sir Hubert von Herkomer, in honor of his mother (hence the name: Mother’s Tower _ Mutterturm in>). Its architecture replicates the romanticism of a medieval castle.
    • • Since 1990, the original residential building, which is attached to the Mutterturm, has housed the Herkomer Museum with around 100 exhibits including paintings, sculptures and graphics from the Herkomer Foundation collection.
    • • And, as we highlighted at the beginning of the article, many say that she was the inspiration for the Rapunzel tale written by the Brothers Grimm. So much so that many call it the “Rapunzel Tower“.

• • Justizvollzugsanstalt Landsberg (Landsberg Penitentiary)
    • • The complex of correctional facility buildings built in 1904-1908 gained national fame with the arrest of Adolf Hitler in 1923-24, being the place where he wrote his book “ Mein Kampf“.
    • • From 1933, the “Hitler cell” became a place of pilgrimage for National Socialism. After World War II, the prison served as “Criminal War Prison No. 1” by the American occupation forces and also where 281 war criminals were executed in 1951.
    • • At the head of the penitentiary is the Spöttinger Friedhof (Spoettingen Cemetery), where both victims and perpetrators of the National Socialist regime are buried.

• • Europäische Holocaustgedenkstätte (European Holocaust Memorial)
    • • Almost all traces of the Kaufering concentration camp complex have disappeared, with the exception of the former Kaufering VII concentration camp (southwest of the town of Landsberg on Erpftinger Straß e) where it is possible to see architectural and archaeological monuments that are preserved until today. Being classified as buildings of national importance, as a “cultural heritage of the Federal Republic of Germany”.
    • • At the memorial site, ten memorial stones, which were donated by European heads of state in memory of Jews deported and murdered from their home countries, honor the victims of the Kaufering concentration camp complex >. Each individual tombstone describes in its own way the importance of remembering the loss of the Jewish part of the respective nation.
    • • It is possible to take a guided tour of the site, contact Europäischen Holocaustgedenkstätte Stiftung (the European Holocaust Memorial Foundation).

In addition to the points listed, be sure to explore Landsberg am Lech and admire the city’s alleys and buildings. In particular the Lech River dam, called Lechwehr (Karolinenwehr), and the main bridge that crosses it, the Karolinenbrücke.

Tips for a 1-day itinerary in Landsberg am Lech in Germany

Our suggestion in Landsberg am Lech is to divide your itinerary into two parts:

• • Practically all of its sights are in the Altstadt and even the most distant ones, such as the Mutterturm, are not far away.

• • Take the morning to walk and admire the beautiful buildings of Landsberg.

Take a break for lunch at one of the restaurants suggested in our publication.

• • You can end your trip with an ice cream on the banks of the Rio Lech or, if you have managed to make a reservation, with a guided tour of the European Holocaust Memorial.

After that you continue your journey to the next city on the Romantic Route of Germany.

Where to eat in Landsberg am Lech in Germany – Tips for bars and restaurants

If you’re traveling in Germany, I believe you should look for restaurants specializing in the country’s traditional cuisine or even a Biergarten for a German beer.

In Landsberg am Lech there are the options of restaurants, bars and Biergarten:

• • Nonnenbrau
    • • Epfenhauser Str. 5, 86899, Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria Germany
    • • Reviews: The food is very tasty and well presented. The portions are big and the price is fair. I really enjoyed my dinner.

• • Fischerwirt
    • • Rossmarkt 197, 86899, Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria Germany
    • • Reviews: Small and cozy restaurant, I followed the recommendation, venison with potato salad, my wife the turkey with rice and salad, both were excellent.

• • Restaurant Am Hexenturm
    • • Vordere Muehlgasse 190, 86899, Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria Germany
    • • Reviews: A very nice place, beautiful decor, clean, great local beer, very good menu choices and very nice service! The waiter was very kind and offered us a good stay!

• • Gasthaus Süßbräu
    • • Alte Bergstr. 453, 86899, Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria Germany
    • • Comments: I think I have tasted one of the best typical German meals. In addition to the excellent food, the restaurant offers a cozy atmosphere and friendly service.

Watch a video with images of Landsberg am Lech in Germany

Video description: The beautiful town of Landsberg am Lech is situated on the Romantic Road and is the center of the Lechrain region, the border region between Swabia and Bavaria. It is known for its picturesque historic center.

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*Photos from TripAdvisor, official website of Landsberg am Lech and Wikipedia.