Germany - Deutschland

St. Johannes Baptist - the parish church of Oberstdorf - stands on the market square in the center of town. The tower with a height of 66 meters - the tallest in the upper Illertal - is the landmark of the town. The year 991 is mentioned in chronicles as the start of construction of the parish church, but other sources report that this Romanesque church was consecrated in 1141. In 1865, two thirds of Oberstdorf fell victim to the the great fire, including the parish church in the middle of the village; only the surrounding walls and the burnt-out tower remained standing. The reconstruction of the parish church took place in 1866. The walls of the nave, which were still standing and made of stone masonry could be used again; the nave was raised, extended and provided with a newly built choir. The church was finally reconsecrated in 1872. Four altars, beautiful pictures and statues adorn the church. The high altar and the people's altar are in the choir room. On the left is the Pentecost altar and on the right the Christmas altar. The church also has a beautiful carved pulpit.

The Seelenkapelle (Chapel of the Souls) is one of the few buildings in the center of Oberstdirf, which did not fall victim to the Great Fire of 1865. The chapel is located on the west side of the parish church - in the middle of the old abandoned cemetery - and has been used as a war memorial chapel since 1931. The entrance is therefore guarded by two martial soldiers. The chapel was probably built in the late 15th century. An "eternal light" was donated to it in 1504. In 1524 it was mentioned as an ossuary. The amazing paintings with the sculptures in the niches on the north wall were created in the middle of the 16th century. The impressive Pietà in the interior is dating back to the early 40s of the 20th century. The Seelenkapelle is of huge significance to the fallen soldiers from the war and is also considered as a memorial (PiP3). The chapel is the second oldest of the Oberstdorf chapels.

The Loretto-Kapellen (Loretto chapels) are a complex of chapels and a fountain on the outskirts of Oberstdorf. It consists of three individual Roman Catholic chapels. The Loretto chapels refer to the Italian pilgrimage site of Loreto near Ancona and are the end point of the Way of the Cross, which starts at the parish church in the village. The Appachkapelle is the smallest and oldest Loretto chapel. The octagonal building was built in 1493. It is the origin of the entire complex. Today, the church houses a simple marble altar adorned with a wooden sculpture. The little chapel also offers frescoes from the time of its construction (PiP2). Just outside the chapel stands the Marienbrunnen , which has probably existed since the beginnings of the pilgrimages (PiP1). The most beautiful and largest chapel is the Kapelle Maria Loretto . It was built when the Appachkapelle became a popular pilgrimage chapel in the 17th century (between 1657 and 1677) and could no longer cope with the large number of pilgrims. It houses the miraculous image of Mary (PiP3 and 4). The Josefskapelle was built in 1671 on a cross floor plan and consecrated in 1685. This chapel used to form the actual end of the Way of the Cross (PiP5).

The huge village meadow of Oberstdorf is dotted with old barns. Being as flat as a pancake it is an ideal place for walking, biking and in winter for cross country skiing. The panorama - a stitch of three pictures - is showing the Allgäu Alps nearby Oberstdorf and in the background the ‘Lorettokapellen’ (PiP).

The huge village meadow - Öschwiesen - of Oberstdorf is dotted with old barns. Being as flat as a pancake it is an ideal place for walking, biking and in winter for cross country skiing. Winter 2024 Oberstdorf: No snow, no cross-country skiing, just walkers enjoying the sun and/or the magnificent views of the surrounding Allgäu mountains (snow picture see PiP3). Farmers had already spread manure on the pastures.

Morning fog above a snowy meadow just outside Oberstdorf.

Our first morning ever in Oberstdorf. Can you imagine we fell in love with the town ??

The river Breitach has cut a deep canyon into the rocks of the Bavarian Alps, almost on the border between Austria and Germany, just south of Oberstdorf. The most interesting part of the gorge is a couple of hundred meters long. On some places the steep walls are more than 100 meters high, where only very few spots ever get the sunlight. There is a path along the river, which on the narrowest places has been cut into the steep wall of the canyon. During a hike in the winter we were really surprised by the beauty of this ‘winter wonderland’ with snow, glittering icicles, ice curtains and frozen waterfalls.

The river Breitach has cut a deep canyon into the rocks of the Bavarian Alps, almost on the border between Austria and Germany, just south of Oberstdorf. The most interesting part of the gorge is a couple of hundred meters long. On some places the steep walls are more than 100 meters high, where only very few spots ever get the sunlight. There is a secured path along the river, which on the narrowest places has been cut into the steep wall of the canyon. All around is water running down the rocks, gurgles in tiny rivers across the hiking trail into the Breitach. On other place waterfalls are coming down from the cliff walls. At the start of the trail there is still lush green vegetation, but the further you come the scene turns into barren rocks with the noise of the powerful water rushing and tumbling metres below the walkway. (Visited also in winter, which is of course quite different: www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/36423358/in/album/742620)

The Breitachklamm (Breitach Gorge) was formed only during the last 10,000 years after the “Würm ice age”. Glaciers had eroded soft rocks, and hard rocks remained. When the glaciers had melted, the river Breitach had to grind its way through the hard rocks, over a distance of 2.5 km. During these years the Breitach has cut a deep canyon into the rocks of the Bavarian Alps, almost on the border between Austria and Germany, just south of Oberstdorf. The most interesting part of the gorge is a couple of hundred meters long. On some places the steep walls are more than 100 meters high, where only very few spots ever get the sunlight. There is a secured path along the river, which on the narrowest places has been cut into the steep wall of the canyon. All around is water running down the rocks, gurgles in tiny rivers across the hiking trail into the Breitach. On other place waterfalls are coming down from the overhanging walls. The further you enter the gorge, the scene turns into barren rocks with the noise of the powerful water rushing and tumbling metres below the walkway. Winter 2024 Oberstdorf: Unlike on a previous winter-visit when the walls of the gorge were covered with glittering icicles, ice curtains and frozen waterfalls we were now surprised by waterfalls and a spray of fine droplets and the roaring Breitach beneath us. Water was really everywhere.

The Fellhorn/Kanzelwand ski area is located on the border between Germany and Austria. It has fourteen cable cars and lifts with a total of thirty-six kilometers of slopes. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 920 and 1.967 m. The main picture shows the view from the Obere Geren-Piste nearby the mountain station of the Fellhornbahn into Kleinwalsertal (Austria).

Kornau is a hamlet of Oberstdorf, which lies on a ridge between the Stillach and Breitach valleys. It delights with its magnificent postcard panorama of the Oberstdorf mountain world from the Rubihorn near Reichenbach to the Allgäu main ridge in the southern valleys. Kornau lies on an altitude of almost 915 meters - about hundred meters above Oberstdorf - on a sunny terrace. Although during our visit it was not very sunny, but grey and snowy. I took this picture from the path from Kornau to the Söllereck ski area.

The Nebelhorn (2.224 m.) is the highest mountain of Allgäu. It is accessible by the Nebelhornbahn, a cable car from the Oberstdorf. The summit offers a breathtaking ‘400-peak panoramic view’ towards the Alpine massif and on the other hand over the valley of the river Iller. Pictures: Main picture: Iller valley PiP: 400-peak view

Söllereck is family friendly ski area offering easy and intermediate ski runs with a total of 12 km of slopes. It has one cable car and four ski-lifts. At the base station is a large area for children. The Söllereck ski area is situated between the elevations of 1.000 and 1.450 m. The area is well known for its winter hiking trails. The main picture shows the view from the top of the Schrattenwanglift (1.450 m) looking down to Oberstdorf and the valley of the river Iller. The PiP shows the main down hill slope, which has a length of almost 2.800 m.

The legendary view from the Nebelhorn at a height of 2.224 m towards ‘400 mountain peaks’ with Zugspitze, Lechtaler Alps and Swiss mountains.

Oytal is a valley in the south of Oberstdorf and gets its name from the river Oybach. The valley is situated on an altitude of 1.000 meters. In the winter it ‘ends’ at the Berggasthof Oytalhaus, about 5 km’s from Oberstdorf. Besides walking and cycling (summer), one can take a carriage ride through this beautiful valley. Characteristic for the Oy valley is the avenue, lined with numerous mount maples, with a length of more than 1 km.

Trettachtal (Trettach Valley) is one of Oberstdorf’s valleys, which are characterised by glacial drift from the latest ice age. The valley glaciers from the large side valleys gradually crept south, forming the scenery that is visible today. As the glaciers receded, watercourses formed the current valleys, among them the beautiful Trettachtal. The Trettach stream originates south of Oberstdorf near the Trettachspitze and is about 14 km long. Nowadays the valley - almost car free - offers a more or less level, yet beautiful walk. We often made a round trip during our winter holidays in Oberstdorf. First following the river and passing the hamlets Gruben and Dietersberg, back along the golf course, the frozen Moorweiher and the historic Moorbad swimming pool.

Trettachtal (Trettach Valley) is one of Oberstdorf’s valleys, which are characterised by glacial drift from the latest ice age. The valley glaciers from the large side valleys gradually crept south, forming the scenery that is visible today. As the glaciers receded, watercourses formed the current valleys, among them the beautiful Trettachtal. The Trettach stream originates south of Oberstdorf near the Trettachspitze and is about 14 km long. Nowadays the valley - almost car free - offers a more or less level, yet beautiful walk. We often made a round trip during our winter holidays in Oberstdorf. First following the river and passing the hamlets Gruben and Dietersberg, back along the golf course, the frozen Moorweiher and the historic Moorbad swimming pool. Winter 2024 Oberstdorf: This winter, everything was completely different. There was no snow at all to be seen and the high temperatures made it more spring than winter. It resulted in different pictures than 'normal' (see snow photo of around the same spot in PiP 5).