A trip to Landsberg am Lech

Landsberg am Lech regularly occupies top positions in surveys for cities with the highest happiness factor and the best quality of life. Visitors to the Romantic Road quickly realize why this is the case.

The extremely well-preserved old town with its medieval streets, gates and towers, imposing churches and colorful town houses not only on a journey through time through the Middle Ages, Rococo to modern times – it also sparkles with joie de vivre. Dolce vita – just without palm trees, but with the sound of the Lech. Cozy cafés, small shops to browse through and inviting restaurants are waiting around every corner. Historical buildings are not a backdrop here, but a living part of the colorful daily life in the city.

Main square

Its unusual shape alone indicates the outstanding importance of the square for the city. Not round, oval or rectangular – it is triangular in the center of the city, surrounded by stately town houses and the historic town hall. Here you can meet for an ice cream, listen to the street musicians at the Marienbrunnen fountain or enjoy the last rays of sunshine that make the colorful facades of the houses shine.

Historic city center and baroque churches

Stately fortifications, numerous gates and towers, exuberant baroque buildings and winding alleyways… Landsberg’s old town is one of the best-preserved historical ensembles in Upper Bavaria. Anyone who likes to visit churches will also get their money’s worth: the parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary from the 15th century. or the Holy Cross Church with a Jesuit monastery are just as impressive as the small St. John’s Church with a stucco altar by Dominikus Zimmermann or the magnificently decorated monastery church of the Ursulines.

Buildings by Dominikus Zimmermann

Dominikus Zimmermann is considered one of the most important master builders of the Rococo periods. Among other things, he built the famous Wieskirche in Steingaden. The elaborately designed facade of the historic town hall is also one of Zimmermann’s well-known works. Zimmermann not only lived in Landsberg for many years, but also steered the fortunes of the city as mayor from 1749 to 1753. More of his works can be found in the Johanniskirche and with the rosary altar in the parish church. They all bear witness to the ingenious combination of ornament, painting and architecture.

City fortifications and Bayertor

The Bayertor, one of the most beautiful Gothic gate systems in southern Germany, greets you from afar. From the battlements of the tower there is a great view over the city, the Lech and the Alps. The historic city center can be almost completely circumnavigated along the former city fortifications and connects the upper and lower town.

Mutterturm and Herkomer Museum

Located directly on the Lech, the mother tower with its gold-colored roof is visible from afar in an enchanted park landscape and is one of the most striking buildings in the city. The building, designed in the style of a Norman keep, was built in 1884 by the universal genius Hubert von Herkomer in honor of his mother. A visit to the associated Herkomer Museum brings the artist’s time to life, who was one of the most renowned portrait artists of his time, but also had a strong passion for technology and science. At the same time, one of the loveliest cafés in the city is right at the foot of the tower and is just the right place to regain strength after visiting the museum and climbing the tower.

Lech

When stopping at the rushing Lech weir, it is difficult to imagine how thousands of raftsmen used to be able to dare this rapid descent. Even today, the river shapes the life of the city. Some love it relaxed and meet for a coffee on the Lech promenade or for a cold beer in the beer garden directly on the river.
The others like it more active. Whether it’s the traditional way of bathing at the Lech beach, canoeing, whitewater kayaking or stand up paddling at the reservoirs – every bend in the river offers a new panorama and you forget to be in the middle of a city area.

Pössinger Au

Only a few minutes’ walk from the old town, the Lech created a natural recreation area with a wonderful forest, meadow and meadow landscape and offers a home to many animals and plants that have become rare.

While the children romp around in the water playground, marvel at the free-roaming fallow deer or the piglets in the wild boar enclosure, teenagers fill their Instagram accounts with pictures of the bright turquoise glowing Teufelsschlucht reservoir. And the parents? Look forward to a successful day and reward yourself with a visit to the “Teufelskueche” excursion restaurant, right on the Lech.

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