Anyone visiting Munich should definitely not miss out on the medieval town of Landsberg am Lech. Only around 60 kilometres away, the town is a wonderful place to discover on a day trip.
- Historic city centre and winding alleyways
- Dominiskus Zimmermann - important master builder of the Rococo period
- Bayertor & Mutterturm
- The Lech: Lech meadows and Lech weir
- Landsberg am Lech: How to get there from Munich
The medieval townscape is characterised by impressive fortifications, gates and towers, colourful town houses, winding alleyways, beautiful baroque churches and is one of the best-preserved historic old towns in Upper Bavaria. The main square with the Marienbrunnen fountain forms the centre of the old town. The historic Rathaus (town hall), built in several phases from 1699, is also located here. To the east of the main square is the Schmalzturm (tower), which was part of the first town fortifications and where the market women once sold lard. Just a few minutes' walk away is the parish church Mariä Himmelfahrt, the main church in the Lech town. There are numerous small shops and cosy cafés and bars to stroll and linger in the beautiful alleyways.
Dominiskus Zimmermann was born in 1685 in Upper Bavaria and was an important plasterer and master builder of the Rococo period. He lived and worked as a master builder in Landsberg am Lech. He held the office of mayor from 1748 to 1753. His well-known works include the Wieskirche (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the historic town hall and St John's Church in Landsberg. His church buildings with their curved windows were particularly popular. His older brother Johann Baptist Zimmermann, with whom he often collaborated, designed the interior of the Amalienburg in Schloss Nymphenburg Park.
The Bayertor, one of the most beautiful late Gothic gates in southern Germany, greets you from afar. It was built in 1425 as part of the town wall and is located on the eastern edge of the town. As the gate points towards Bavaria and Landsberg was once a border town between Bavaria and Swabia, it was later called the Bavarian Gate and is considered one of Landsberg's landmarks. It is worth climbing the tower (from May to October), because from the battlements of the tower (height approx. 36 metres) you have a wonderful view of the medieval old town and the Lech Valley as far as the Alps.
Beautifully situated in a small park on the banks of the Lech stands the Mutterturm with its golden-coloured roof. It was erected in 1884 by Hubert von Herkomer, who was born near Landsberg in 1849, in honour of his mother. In the meantime, the family had moved to England, where Hubert von Herkomer enjoyed great success as a painter and graphic artist and opened and ran his own school of painting. At his mother's request, the family moved back to beautiful Landsberg in 1877. Two years later, his mother died. Today, the beautiful Mutterturm serves as a romantic backdrop for wedding ceremonies and is part of the Herkomer Museum, which exhibits paintings and prints by the artist. In 1905, Hubert von Herkomer initiated the world's first touring car rally in Germany, the Herkomer-Konkurrenz.
The Lech still characterises the townscape of Landsberg today and is one of the most beautiful mountain rivers in Germany. In the past, the town was often threatened by floods, which is why the wide Lech weir was built in the 14th century. The approximately 200 metre wide Lech weir runs below the Karolinenbrücke bridge and tamed the once wild river. The Mühlbach, a tributary of the Lech, still flows between the narrow houses today.
A beautiful mill wheel near the "Vordere Mühlgasse" bridge is a reminder that water power was once used to operate mills and sawmills. Even today, the Mühlbach still drives a torbine to generate electricity. You can take a pleasant stroll along the Lech promenade or find a cosy spot in one of the cafés or restaurants. In summer, the Inselbad pool on the banks of the Lech is a great place for relaxation, fun and action, where the 10 metre high freefall slide promises pure adrenaline.
Not far from the old town of Landsberg is the Lechpark Pössinger Au, which is open all year round and is a local recreation area with a wildlife park, water playground, Kneipp bath with barefoot path, plenty of benches and tables for a short break in between as well as play and sunbathing areas for young and old to really let off steam. A beautiful 7.5 kilometre hike leads along all the sights of the Lechpark to the Teufelsküche, up a stairway to the Teufelsschlucht gorge and back again. The beautiful turquoise-coloured water of the Teufelsküchen reservoir is definitely not to be missed. Located directly on the Lech, next to the gorge of the same name, is the "Teufelsküche" restaurant with a terrace and window front overlooking the Lech.
Train connection: approx. 1 hour. Information at bahn.de
Car: approx. 1 hour via the A96 motorway
