In this guide we have included tips on what to do, accommodation, tourist attractions, restaurant and other information for your best visit in Schongau in Bavaria, state of Germany.
A travel itinerary to Schongau can be part of planning to discover the entire German Romantic Route, the country’s best-known tourist itinerary, or even a weekend or holiday e-back.
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 Schongau in Germany
Schongau is a municipality in Germany, located in the district of Weilheim-Schongau, in the state of Bavaria. The main part of the city is on the west bank of the river Lech on the Pfaffenwinkel.
Schongau is 92 km from Munich (approx. 1h 15min journey). I haven’t taken the train to the city yet, but you can search for an option on the Deutsch Bahn. Having as a reference the capital of the country, it is 667 km from Berlin and even though it is far, it is possible to go by car (approx. 7h), in relation to other cities, it is 229 km from Stuttgart (approx. from Frankfurt (approx. 4h30min).
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 and 20 minutes (see Goog routeland Maps).
Read our Best travel tips for Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
How to go to Schongau in Germany
The best way to travel in Germany and arrive in Schongau is very much up to you. We alternated a lot between using the country’s excellent rail 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?).
Germany’s Romantic Route
The German Romantic Route is the name given to a travel itinerary in southern Germany that crosses the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in >. 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.
Schongau 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 on the German Romantic Road:
Where to stay in Schongau in Germany – Hotel, hostel and Bed & Breakfast
Although it is not very common to choose the city of Schongau as a base to get to know the Romantic Route (it is much more common for example stay in Munich and take a trip back), there are many good options for accommodation.
The best rated hotels in Schongau close to the city center that you can analyze to choose where to stay are:
- Hotel Alte Post
- Marienplatz 19, 86956 Schongau, Germany
- 8.3 – Very Good out of 140 Reviews
- Guest Reviews: Nice room, air conditioning , excellent breakfast, friendly and helpful manager and staff.
- Hotel Blaue Traube
- Münzstraße 10, 86956 Schongau, Germany
- 7.8 – Good out of 504 reviews
- Accommodation participating in the Sustainable Travel program
- Guest Reviews: Great place in the city center. Got a much better room than I expected – and for the same price 🙂 Clean, comfortable rooms, friendly staff.
- Lechwirt
- Lechvorstadt 2 1 .Stock, 86956 Schongau, Germany
- 8.2 – Very Good on 257 Reviews
- Guest Reviews: Perfect apartment in Schongau! Very comfortable, clean and well decorated! Very friendly host, made our check-in quick and pleasant.
- Refuge
- Bauerngasse 27, 86956 Schongau, Germany
- 8.7 – Fabulous out of 3 reviews
- Guest Reviews: Very nice little garden with pond and lilies, in good weather breakfast is great. Good owner.
There are many other accommodation options in hotels, hostels and inns, be sure to check them out at Booking.com page .
What to do in Schongau in Germany
It was around 1060 that the first mention (as “Scongoe“) of present-day Altenstadt, Schongau’s origin, was first mentioned. Its creation came from a large number of inhabitants who moved just a few kilometers to a new settlement founded on the banks of the River Lech, as the hilltop location was much more defensible.
The town of Schongau is very close to the ancient Roman road to Augsburg, Via Claudia Augusta (47 AD) and owes its origins to the Romans. In the Middle Ages it was an important junction and trading center on the “Verona-Augsburg-Nuremberg” route and on the salt road from Berchtesgadener Land to Allgäu.
The city underwent several changes of ownership and legal concessions, as well as being involved several times in martial conflicts and was often a transit camp for friendly and hostile troops.
Through the commerce and diligence of its citizens, Schongau lived a period of prosperity until the time of the discovery of America, which resulted in the relocation of the great trade routes. As a result, the city became so poor that significant buildings such as the castle and the balehouse were partially deteriorated or demolished. After World War II, the city and its surroundings gained considerable numbers of residents due to refugees and turned into a district with relatively low unemployment due to the thriving middle class.
Schongau used to be a municipality with the same name. Due to the reform of the district of Bavaria in 1972, it merged with the district of Weilheim in the current county of Weilheim-Schongau. In the city there are still some institutions of the county authority, and the name Altlandkreis Schongau is still used occasionally.
The well-preserved old town was built on a Lechberg and still has an almost completely preserved wall.
Main tourist attractions
The most interesting tourist attractions that can be included in your travel itinerary in Schongau are:
- Altstadt Schongau (Old Town of Schongau)
- The main destination is Altstadt Schongau, Old Town of Schongau, which includes the historic center, important buildings, besides being possible to visit the old wall and watchtowers.
- Stadtmauer (City wall)
- Wall of the city that still has a large part preserved, being the oldest from the 13th, 15th and 17th centuries. Explore its walkable battlements, its 5 gates and towers, including the Frauentor (police tower).
- Ballenhaus (House of dance)
- The ground floor of the Ballenhaus, a building of late Gothic architecture, used to be storage space for the flow of goods on trade routes. The administration of the city was located on the upper floors, being the city council until 1902. Between 1858 and 1860 almost a third of the building was demolished due to damage.
- Stadtpfarrkirche Mariae Himmelfahrt (Parish Church Mariae Himmelfahrt)
- The parish church Mariae Himmelfahrt, built between 1750 and 1753, has a rococo interior with frescoes by Matthäus Günther and stucco from the school from Wessobrunn. Its architecture includes Baroque and Rococo and features the relics of Saint Constantius, which were brought from a catacomb in Rome in 1745.
- Basilika St. Michael (St Michael’s Basilica)
- St Michael’s Basilica built around 1220 in the Historic City of Schongau is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in ancient Bavaria.
- Polizeidienerturm (Police Tower)
- The Police Officer Tower is a gate tower of the 13th century. It was built from blocks of tuff like a shell tower.
- Curiosity, as soon as it lost its function as a city gate, the back opened facing the city was closed and the tower was converted into an inhabited entrance, and was used as a residence by a police officer in the 19th century.
- Münzgebäude (Mint)
- The right to mint money was exercised in the mint building on the north wall of the city until the mid-16th century. In 1771 it was rebuilt.
- Stadtmuseum Schongau (Museum of the City of Schongau)
- The The importance of coinage is so important to Schongau that the City Museum has a valuable coin collection. See up-to-date information on entrance fees and opening times at official website.
In addition to the points listed, be sure to explore Schongau and marvel at the city’s alleys and buildings.
Schongau 1-day itinerary tip Germany
Our suggestion at Schongau is to split your itinerary into two parts:
- Virtually all your points of visit are in the Altstadt, so reserve the morning to walk around and admire its historic buildings.
Take a break for lunch at one of the restaurants suggested in our post.
- You can end your trip and go to the next destination or take the opportunity to visit the City Museum or even the Schongau Zoo until sunset.
After that you continue your journey to the next city on the German Romantic Route.
Where to eat in Schongau in Germany – Tips for bars and restaurants
If you are traveling through Germany, I believe you should look for restaurants specializing in the country’s traditional cuisine or even a Biergarten, for a German beer.
In Schongau there are options for restaurants, bars and Biergarten:
- Schongauer Brauhau
- Altenstadter Str. 13, 86956 Schongau, Bavaria Germany
- Comments: Great service, friendly management and service! They even had a real ale (natürtrub) to prepare for installations!
- Weinstuben im Frauentor
- Christophstr. 21-23, 86956 Schongau, Bavaria Germany
- Comments: This quaint restaurant is a must for anyone visiting Schongau. The house specialty is Flammkuchen, a southern German take on pizza, but much better, thin and crispy wafer base, with various toppings.
- Blaue Traube – Restaurant Hotel
- Muenzstr. 10, 86956 Schongau, Bavaria Germany
- Comments: Very good service. I asked for a dish off the menu and they did it. Good beer. Order the fondue for dessert, although there should be a little more fruit.
Watch a video with images of Schongau in Germany
Video description: A drone ride over the old town of Schongau, Bavaria, part of the Romantic Road in Germany. A different view of the old walls, allenhaus, the city gates, the old cemetery, the police watchtower and the town hall.
Are you traveling to Germany?
Specifically about international travel by plane to Frankfurt Airport, we have the best post:
Where to stay near Frankfurt Airport Germany – FRA, Frankfurt/Main
Search for the best place to stay near Frankfurt Airport, including hotel and hostel at different prices.
We also write about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out .
For planning a trip to Germany, we have some publications that can help a lot:
- Berlin, Germany – Top 20 sights and things to do and visit
- The Best Christmas Markets in Germany
- The best region and the best hotel to stay in Cologne in Germany
- Best travel tips for Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
*Photos from TripAdvisor, official website of Schongau and Wikipedia.