Westendorf: Church, Music and Tradition

Westendorf combines a notable church history with lively community and cultural activities. Those interested in tradition will find plenty of ways to connect with it here: from St. Michael’s Parish Church to the Trachten and Local Heritage Association, as well as music and theatre in the community. The wider travel destination of Ostallgäu broadens the picture to include mountains, lakes, cultural sites and a range of options for active days.

Church and Traditional Culture in Westendorf

The Catholic parish church of St. Michael was extended and renovated in 1966/67. These works were funded mainly by donations from the local population and voluntary labour. A thorough exterior renovation followed in 1979/80. The two periods reflect different works on the same building: first, its extension and renovation, and later, comprehensive upkeep of its exterior.

Traditional costumes and dances are also part of the town’s cultural identity. Since its founding in 1921, the “Gennachtaler” Westendorf Trachten and Local Heritage Association has been dedicated to preserving traditional costumes, folk dances and Schuhplattler dancing. Alongside the church’s history, dance and regional customs are therefore also central themes for anyone wishing to get to know Westendorf better.

Music and Theatre in the Community

The Dösingen Music Association contributes to the community’s cultural life through a range of activities, including New Year’s serenading, annual and children’s concerts, the “Blätzagraba” and wine festival, as well as festive processions for First Communion and Corpus Christi. The community’s two brass bands also give regular concerts. If you are planning a trip around a particular concert or festival, check the relevant dates in advance.

In Dösingen, the Theaterstube stages classic plays with wit and humour. Its repertoire includes the dialect play “The Swabian Paradise,” inspired by Franz von Kobell’s original version of Brandner Kaspar, and “The Paternity Suit of Carpenter Joseph” by Ephraim Kishon.

The Ostallgäu as a Wider Travel Destination

Within the wider travel destination of Ostallgäu, the district’s landscape stretches from the mountains of the Vilser Gebirge in the southwest to those of the Ammergebirge in the southeast. At 2,082 metres, Hochplatte is the highest mountain in the Ostallgäu. This makes it easy to distinguish the region’s natural attractions from Westendorf’s local cultural history.

Cultural sites add their own distinctive touches: since 12 July 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Linderhof Palace, the King’s House on Schachen and Herrenchiemsee Palace. A guided tour is required to visit the royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. In addition to the Obergünzburg Local History Museum, the South Seas Collection displays more than 1,500 everyday and cultural objects.

Cycling, Hiking, Water and Winter

The Ostallgäu offers a variety of activities and options at different scales for active holidays. The RadReiseRegion comprises themed regional cycling routes that extend across the entire Ostallgäu. Each route is between 25 and 76 kilometres long and consistently signposted. For hiking, there are 32 local routes showcasing special natural and local treasures. The cycling route information helps you distinguish a longer ride with a clear thematic focus from the regional hiking routes.

At more than 15 square kilometres, Lake Forggensee is Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake and Germany’s largest reservoir. The Forggensee Cycle Route loops around the lake, and during the summer season the Forggensee boat service regularly offers trips. If you are planning a boat trip, check the timetable in advance. In winter, the Alpspitzbahn Nesselwang adds to the region’s options: it provides access to the ski run around the 1,575-metre-high Alpspitz; the ski area includes family-friendly slopes and a children’s ski area. Operating conditions may vary seasonally.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Westendorf, this suggests an initial question about location: should the town’s local culture be the main focus, or would you prefer to plan around specific landscapes, museums and activities across the wider Ostallgäu? If particular regional destinations are a deciding factor, compare your accommodation’s location with the places that matter for your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Osterzell, Halblech, Waal, Mauerstetten, Roßhaupten, Lechbruck am See, Pfronten, Stötten am Auerberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Ostallgäu.