Fischen i.Allgäu: Iller, Weidach and Allgäu Trails

Discover Weidach and the Squirrel Forest

Fischen’s floodplain forest is called Weidach. Its twelve gates tell the story of the forest and its importance to the local people. They also help visitors learn more about the forest and its inhabitants. So the focus is not just on the trees and landscape, but also on the relationship between this floodplain forest and the people for whom it matters. Those interested in nature and its history will find a different focus here than on an outing centred mainly on winter sports or church history.

The Squirrel Forest in Fischen offers a special experience of its own: there is an adventure trail with five stops, known as the “children’s gates”. They share interesting facts about the lives of squirrels. For families, this provides a specific reason to look out for the animals and learn about their way of life together along the way. The five stops give the trail a clear theme, while the twelve gates in Weidach focus on the floodplain forest and its significance. So, depending on your interests, you can focus on different nature themes without treating the two experiences as one and the same.

Walks and trails along the Iller

From Fischen railway station, a level, largely barrier-free walking path leads through the Iller floodplains to Auwaldsee lake. It takes about 20 minutes to walk the roughly 1.5-kilometre route. These details can help you include the walk as a separate option in your day’s plans. The paths in Fischen’s Weidach are also easy to use for people with disabilities, thanks to the level terrain and their width. This gives visitors a clear guide when choosing activities based on the condition of the paths.

If you enjoy varied landscapes, consider the “Water Trails – Towards the Source” hike. It follows varied walking and hiking paths along the Iller, through floodplain forests, quiet stretches of woodland and open meadows. The Fischen Trilogy circular walk offers different highlights: it runs along the foothills of the Allgäu Alps and takes in the atmosphere of the floodplain forest, the Iller, Auwaldsee lake and views of the Hörner mountain range. The route descriptions therefore highlight different landscape features; you can decide whether to focus on the river, forest and meadows, or also take in views of the Hörner range. The climate health hiking trails in Fischen and the surrounding area were developed in collaboration with the Chair of Public Health at the University of Munich and local spa doctors.

Culture and winter sports history

Fischen also offers points of interest for culture lovers. The first documented consecration date of the parish church of St. Verena dates back to 1126. This year points to a long church history and offers a different way to explore the village than the natural landscapes of Weidach or the Iller. The FIS Ski Museum displays exhibits on the history of alpine and Nordic skiing, as well as other winter sports. Those interested in the development of skiing can explore alpine and Nordic disciplines, along with other winter sports, there.

These different interests may influence your choice of Fischen as a holiday destination: nature trails, the floodplain forest and the Iller sit alongside a squirrel-themed adventure trail, the parish church of St. Verena and the ski museum. Searching for a holiday apartment in Fischen is a good option if you want to make the village itself the starting point for planning your trip; you can put together specific ideas for each day based on your interests.

You can also explore these places as part of planning your trip: Oy-Mittelberg, Betzigau, Weitnau, Blaichach, Wertach, Lauben, Obermaiselstein and Immenstadt Im Allgäu.

For the wider travel overview: Oberallgäu.