Urspring: Maria Magdalena, Lechsee and Trails

Urspring combines historic architecture, regional customs, a waterside landscape and trails with a focus on natural history and culture.

Culture and Regional History

The Maria Magdalena Church in Urspring displays Romanesque elements in its tower, portal and remnants of its walls. A later Late Gothic renovation complements this older fabric. Anyone interested in the development of sacred architecture will find several construction phases here in a single church building and can directly understand the differences between the Romanesque components and the forms added later by examining the building itself.

The interior also takes visitors through various art-historical periods. Its features include a coffered wooden ceiling from the 16th century, meaning a wooden ceiling divided into individual panels, as well as a gallery balustrade from 1507 with eight painted Stations of the Cross. These are complemented by a Rococo pulpit and an Early Baroque Crucifixion group. The year 1507 clearly dates the gallery balustrade, while the terms Rococo and Early Baroque refer to later artistic periods.

Maria Magdalena Church is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in summer. In winter, it is accessible on request. Church services and concerts are held occasionally.

The Trachtenverein “Lechtaler” Urspring is also part of the regional culture. The association maintains the tradition of erecting the maypole.

Lechsee, Village Outskirts and Nature Observation

The Urspring horse stable is located on the outskirts of Urspring. From there, visitors have a view of the Urspring Lech reservoir and the Alps. This combination of a location on the village outskirts, a body of water and views of the Alps describes a landscape contrast that differs clearly from the historic church.

In the Irmengarden, dry stone walls, deadwood hedges and meadows provide food, retreats and habitats for wildlife. Dry stone walls and hedges made of dead wood serve different functions within this habitat, while the meadows provide additional food.

For those interested in nature, this combination of landscape and explanatory content is particularly relevant. The view of the reservoir and the Alps conveys the landscape on a broad scale, while the Irmengarden focuses attention on smaller habitats and their functions. These are two different ways of experiencing Urspring: once through the vastness of the surrounding area, and once through the nearby structures where wildlife can find shelter and food.

Hiking, Cycling and Trails by the Water

The King Ludwig Way leads gently downhill to Urspring. On the section leading to Urspring, information boards explain how the moor was formed and provide information about plants worthy of protection.

Another option is the hike along the Lech in Lechbruck. It follows the Lechsee in the direction of Urspring.

The cultural tour to the Wieskirche leads by bicycle via Urspring along the upper Lechsee to Lechbruck am See.

Hand Fishing at the Upper Lechsee

There is an opportunity for fishing at the Upper Lechsee near Urspring; hand fishing is permitted.

Further destinations for planning your trip: Steingädele, Wildsteig, Prem.

For the overview of the wider region: Steingaden.