Wertach: Nature Trails, Mills and Allgäu Traditions

Around two thirds of Wertach in the Allgäu is designated as a protected landscape or nature reserve. There are also around 120 km of signposted hiking trails, old mills and special insights into the region’s cheese and wine culture. If you’re wondering whether Wertach is right for your holiday, you can choose between outdoor activities, traditional crafts and local customs.

Hiking Trails, Nature and Literature

Two thirds of the approximately 120 km of signposted hiking trails pass through protected landscapes and nature reserves. Various themed trails invite you to take a leisurely hike and lead from one destination to another. The Wertacher Hörnle is known as a natural monument for its alpine rose-covered slopes. If you’re interested in an excursion in the surrounding area, Grüntensee is also highlighted as a swimming destination accessible from Wertach.

The Sebaldweg offers a unique connection between landscape and literature. Open to hikers in summer, the trail is 11 km long and runs from Oberjoch to Wertach, following in the footsteps of writer W. G. Sebald, who was born in Wertach. Along the way, six steles display excerpts from his work “Vertigo” at the original locations. Its fixed length and literary connection make it a special way to combine hiking and literature.

Crafts and History in Wertach

At the approximately 400-year-old Hammerschmiede, which dates from around 1610 to 1620, you can watch the blacksmith at work. The Obere Mühle also tells the story of Wertach’s past: its history goes back more than 500 years, and it was first mentioned in a document in 1536. A mill wheel has been turning there again since 2018, and visits are available. Both places offer tangible connections to local history, from blacksmithing to the mill tradition.

Recurring customs include the Wertach Viehscheid with its market, held every year and considered one of the region’s oldest cattle drives. From Whitsun until the end of September, alphorn music is also played every Monday in dry weather. These traditions may be of interest when planning your trip if you’d like to get to know Wertach through its local customs as well as its landscapes and trails.

Tobogganing, Cross-Country Skiing and Guided Tours

At Buron, specially designed “BERGaufRODEL” sleds take you uphill on the valley lift. There’s also an approximately 2 km toboggan run, separate from the ski slopes. Wertach also has around 15 km of groomed cross-country ski trails, with connecting trails to Nesselwang and Oy-Mittelberg. Tobogganing and cross-country skiing offer different ways to spend time outdoors; the distances given can help you decide which activities suit your interests during your stay.

If you’d like to explore Wertach and the surrounding area on a guided tour, you could consider a SEGWAY tour. It lasts about 1.5 hours and offers panoramic views of the Alps and Grüntensee. Tours are listed for Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., or by arrangement; the meeting point is also arranged individually. This makes the tour an option to consider alongside hikes or visits to local attractions.

Cheese, Wine and Regional Insights

The Allgäuer Gebirgskellerei in Wertach produces blossom wine, berry wine, fruit wine and specialty-fermented wines. You can visit the production facilities on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; this generally applies on public holidays, too. Admission is free, no reservation is required, and you can sample the wines. A wine hike in Wertach combines outdoor activity with regional treats and these special wines.

Cheese also features in the local offerings. s’ Molkefässle offers a cheese seminar featuring a variety of cheeses. Closed groups can arrange cheese and wine tastings featuring selected pairings, in collaboration with s’ Molkefässle. At Schönegger Käse-Alm, you can get a glimpse of cheese production through a window beside the side entrance to the dairy building. These culinary experiences range from a visit and tasting to a seminar.

More places to discover: Oberstaufen, Buchenberg, Durach, Haldenwang, Rettenberg, Altusried, Wiggensbach and Oberstdorf.

For the broader travel overview: Oberallgäu.