Jacob's Way stage 6 Bad Hindelang - Immenstadt/Bühl

Description:

The Jacob's Way Tirol-Allgäu

This alpine Jacob's Way route, which is both scenic and culturally very attractive, leads away from the main roads over three Alpine passes, namely the Fernpass, the old Gaicht Pass, and the Joch Pass. It passes through some of the most attractive hiking and holiday areas of Tyrol and southern Upper Allgäu on ancient Roman, trade, and pilgrimage routes.

The Jacob's Way pilgrims can undoubtedly look forward to a particularly impressive route here. All the more so because it mostly leads through rural, tranquil mountain regions where people have been deeply influenced for centuries by faith and fear of the forces of nature. Therefore, these regions are particularly rich in churches and chapels with numerous small art-historical treasures, often from very different epochs. Coupled with the magnificent panoramic views, the constantly changing perspectives, and the meditative, at times arduous hiking in wind and weather through these alpine natural landscapes, this "camino" becomes a sensory experience, an unforgettable path rich in intense experiences, encounters, insights, and perhaps new understandings of oneself.

Connection to the Jacob's Way network of Austria and Germany

The Jacob's Way Tirol-Allgäu connects in Stams to the German-Austrian Jacob's Way from Munich along Isar, Loisach, Leutascher Ache, and Inn, as well as to the two Austrian Jacob's Ways that unite in Innsbruck: the route from Lofer/Salzburg to Innsbruck and the route from Lienz to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck, this joined Jacob's Way course continues over Stams to the Arlberg or from Stams onto the Tirol-Allgäu route.

Pilgrim stamps and pilgrim passport

Along the Jacob's Way, there are stamp stations in the Jacob chapels and the churches mentioned in the text. These pilgrim stamps are beautiful mementos in your own pilgrim diary. In the internationally recognized pilgrim passport, they serve as proof of the completed route. The pilgrim passport also enables overnight stays in special pilgrim accommodations, of which there are still few on this route. It is available for a processing fee from the Jacob pilgrim communities.

Directions:

From St. Jodokus it goes to Bad Hindelang to the Catholic parish church St. Johannes Baptist (stamp station) (built 1864–1867, stamp station) with numerous art treasures, including the famous triptych depicting the Corpus Christi procession. The only significant ascent on the German route leads (towards "Zillenbachtobel") up to the sun-drenched hamlet of Gailenberg (989 m) with a magnificent view over the entire Ostrach valley. In the chapel of St. Silvester (built 1623), the altarpiece is by Christian Modersohn, the son of the artist Otto Modersohn, both of whom lived here for several years. Today, the studio of the painter Kilian Lipp is located in Gailenberg. On the quiet high path rich in chapels and panoramas, you reach Vorderhindelang, Reckenberg, and Tiefenbach, descending to the bridge over the Ostrach and into the holiday region Alpsee-Grünten. On the left bank side, the route continues via Binswangen towards Sonthofen, the southernmost town in the Allgäu region—ideal for a stroll with a delightful lunch break. Afterwards, you cross the Ostrach bridge at the Erzflöße in the north of the town and immediately turn left onto the path that leads through the meadows to Ortwang, a district of Burgberg. Passing the Ortwanger Baggersee, you keep to the right towards the Iller bridge and cross it to the left towards Blaichach. After the bridge, turn right and after the shooting house reach the Iller riverside path. Walking left there, you pass the Iller dam and follow the beautiful riverside path past the Inselsee with a water ski lift and café until the junction to the center of Immenstadt. The "Städtle" invites you to linger, especially around Marienplatz, Kirchplatz, and Klosterplatz with the pink Capuchin church St. Josef. The Catholic St. Nikolaus church (stamp station) (mentioned in 1275) impresses with its Baroque altars, the pulpit (1707), as well as a Madonna (circa 1470) from the famous Memmingen workshop of Ivo Strigel. In the Protestant Redeemer's Church (stamp station), there is also a pilgrim stamp which can be found at the bulletin board. The church is always open during the day. Heading west, you go across the livestock market field to the bathing path, which leads through the meadows by the Kleiner Alpsee, partly parallel to the railway line, to Bühl in the village center on the shore of the Großer Alpsee—with a lakeside stage, promenade, beach, and AlpSeeHaus, the information center of the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park with tourist information. You should allow plenty of time for this, as well as for the Pilgrimage Church Maria Loreto (stamp station) with Anna Chapel, easily accessible via a steep little road from AlpSeeHaus. The scale model (1666) of the "Casa Santa", the Maria Loreto Chapel near Ancona (Italy), is fascinating—also due to its location with a distant view.

Tip:
Bad Hindelang: several natural baths, farmers' market. Sonthofen: Wonnemar adventure pool, Starzlach gorge, various museums. Burgberg: Erzgruben Erlebniswelt and Vital Park. Blaichach: Inselsee water ski lift. Immenstadt: lakes, museums, beautiful town center.Safety guidelines:
It should be noted that there is an increased risk of accidents and injuries on pilgrim paths. Despite careful route planning, a basic risk always remains. Route preparation through endurance sports, appropriate technical training, and mental preparation reduces the risk of accidents and hazards. But please never forget that the weather in the mountains can change very quickly.Equipment:
Personal pilgrim equipment must be safe and functional and correspond to the respective technical standard. The backpack should not exceed 15 kg in weight. Every pilgrim is recommended to inform themselves extensively in specialist literature or on the internet and prepare accordingly.