Marktoberdorf

Local history and art

The Marktoberdorf Town Museum tells the story of how a place developed from a village into a market town and then a city, across 18 rooms covering around 380 square metres. The exhibition offers a historical perspective on Marktoberdorf’s development. The Riesengebirgsmuseum is housed in the same building. Its historical focus is the expulsion from people’s homes after the Second World War, giving it a distinct focus alongside the Town Museum’s account of local history.

Those interested in art will find a different focus at the Künstlerhaus Marktoberdorf, which is dedicated to contemporary art. The municipal collection features works by over 100 artists and has represented a cross-section of art from the Allgäu and Swabia since the 1970s. Local history and art can thus be explored as distinct themes during your trip, each presented in its own way.

Another historical feature can be found in the underground car park of Marktoberdorf Town Hall: one of the region’s largest post-war bunker complexes is located there. It is one of the town’s notable historical features.

Markets and seasonal highlights

The annual calendar includes two fairs, the Urbani and Martinimarkt, as well as a Christmas market and a weekly farmers’ market. The city has organised the Christmas market for over 50 years. Around 40 festively decorated stalls offer items including decorations, felt goods, wood carvings, ceramics, jewellery, sweets and warming drinks. If you enjoy market life and handcrafted goods, you can plan your stay around this tradition. The weekly market and the fairs add further market dates throughout the year and week.

On foot, by bike or along a pilgrimage route

The Clemens-Wenzeslaus Trail starts in the heart of Marktoberdorf and leads to the temple at the end of Lindenallee. The route is just under 6 km long; information panels share stories and history about Marktoberdorf’s most famous resident. The trail therefore combines a specific distance with a historical theme. If you are planning a longer cycling trip, you can make Marktoberdorf a stop on either of two different routes: the town lies right in the middle of the 475 km Allgäu Cycling Tour and the 156 km Allgäu Cycle Path. The latter runs from Isny to Halblech. Marktoberdorf’s bike-friendly railway station provides connections to other stops along the way.

A pilgrimage route from Munich to Lake Constance also passes through Marktoberdorf. The town is the starting point and destination for several route options. One of them leads from the Auerberg through the Geltnach valley to Marktoberdorf, then continues to Oberthingau or Görisried. For sporty mountain bikers, the Hochwieswald bike circuit offers a different kind of outing. It is a joint project between the city of Marktoberdorf and the German Alpine Club, Allgäu-Immenstadt Section, Marktoberdorf Local Group.

These different interests can help you choose a holiday apartment or holiday home: those mainly looking to visit museums and markets will have different priorities from those planning a cycling stage or a pilgrimage route. Other destinations you can explore include Buchloe, Seeg, Ronsberg, Pfronten, Eisenberg, Germaringen, Lamerdingen and Waal.

For the regional travel overview: Ostallgäu.