Sachsenrieder Bähnle

On 34 kilometers and at 24 stations, cyclists can expect all kinds of interesting facts about the historic "Sachsenrieder Bähnle" railroad line, once planned and built as a transport route for lignite and mine wood. From Ostallgäu to Upper Bavaria.

Inaugurated in 2013, the themed cycle route connects Kaufbeuren in Ostallgäu with Schongau in Upper Bavaria, thus re-establishing historical connections from the time when the railroad line was used through Sachsenrieder Forst to the mining towns in western Upper Bavaria. The adventure cycle route aims to bring the history of the railroad connection between Kaufbeuren and Schongau to life against the backdrop of the history of tourism in Sachsenrieder Forst, forestry past and present and social and human aspects.

The cycle route is interactive and informative. Information boards explain topics relating to the former Kaufbeuren-Schongau railroad line with historical illustrations. In addition to this information, cyclists can use a QR code on the boards to watch original video clips of the last train journey on the line in 1972 on their smartphone. On interactive game boards, cyclists are asked a railroad question on the front of the board and can check the correctness of the answer on the back with the help of a plug. Panoramic views along the cycle path give an impression of what the railroad line might once have looked like. Original railroad material such as signaling equipment has been placed along the cycle path.

Author's tip: Two railroad bridges have been preserved to this day in Sachsenrieder Forst and near Schwabbruck. There are also kilometer markers along the route indicating the distance to Kaufbeuren station.

Further information and links: Funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

Trail description: The Sachsenrieder Bähnle leads from Schongau railroad station to the former forest railway station in Sachsenrieder Forst on hiking trails and mostly little-used local roads south of the old route, as many parts of the old route have disappeared in this area, and further along the route of the former train line to Kaufbeuren railroad station. The route leads from Schongau via Altenstadt (with the Basilica of St. Michael), Schwabbruck, Ingenried, past the eponymous village of Sachsenried, through the Sachsenried Forest and via Osterzell, Kaltental, Stöttwang and Mauerstetten on the Swabian side to Kaufbeuren station. From just before Osterzell to Kaufbeuren, the route is identical to the steam locomotive circuit. The connection to the railroad network in Schongau and Kaufbeuren makes it possible to travel by train.