Ulm – Pfullendorf

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Oberdischingen near Ulm → Pfullendorf
• Length: 96.6 km
• Elevation gain: ↗ 864 m / ↘ 716 m
• Duration: 3–4 days
• Marking: A yellow beam of light on a blue background — pointing only toward Santiago
• Network: Route E of the Via Beuronensis (“Habsthaler Way of St. James”)

Overview

The Via Beuronensis trail network stretches between Ulm and Lake Constance—and this route is its eastern feeder trail: From Oberdischingen Along the Danube, it passes over the Bussen—the "Holy Mountain" of Upper Swabia—through Bad Saulgau and past Habsthal Abbey to Pfullendorf, where the Linzgau Way joins the Way of St. James heading toward Konstanz.

The operator calls it the Habsthal Way of St. James, after the quiet Benedictine convent just before the finish. It’s classic Upper Swabia: a string of pilgrimage churches and monasteries, the Danube Valley, forests, and rolling hills—and with the Bussen, a vantage point that, on a clear day, offers a view all the way to the Alps.

The route can be easily covered in 3–4 days; the 864 meters of elevation gain are spread out at a moderate pace. For those who want to start at Ulm Minster: The operator’s classic opening stage takes you from Ulm upstream along the Danube to Oberdischingen in one day, where our route begins—complete with a pilgrim hostel.

Other Names

Officially, this trail is Route E of the Via Beuronensis, called the Habsthaler Jakobsweg by its operator; on our map it runs as Ulm – Pfullendorf, and many pilgrims simply say the Beuron variant. The network’s eponymous core route is the Beuroner Jakobsweg from Tübingen to Meßkirch.

Who It's Ideal For—and Who It's Not So Ideal For

Ideal if you enjoy Baroque piety, monasteries, and quiet country roads: No other route in the network features a pilgrimage church, three monasteries, and a holy mountain so close together. It’s also convenient: at 3–4 days, the route fits perfectly into a long weekend, and as a feeder route, it extends your Lake Constance pilgrimage to include a genuine slice of Upper Swabia.

This probably isn't the route for you if you're looking for dramatic Alpine scenery or a well-developed pilgrimage infrastructure: There are a few authentic hostels and beds in monasteries, but not as many as you'd find in Spain—and the trail markers require careful attention in some places. You should enjoy solitude: Here, you'll often find yourself walking the pilgrimage route all by yourself.

Route & Landscape

From Oberdischingen The trail initially runs on flat ground along the young Danube upstream—through Öpfingen and Rottenacker to Munderkingen, which nestles in a narrow bend of the Danube. Then the landscape rises: the route winds its way through forests and villages up to the The Bus (767 m), whose pilgrimage church you can see from a distance.

After descending through Dürmentingen, you'll reach Bad Saulgau, then the scenery takes on a monastic feel: Sießen, Habsthal—with forests, ponds, and the rolling hills of Upper Swabia in between. The final stretch leads through Levertsweiler to Pfullendorf, the old imperial city overlooking the Linzgau region, leading directly to St. Jakob Parish Church.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

Plan on 3–4 daily stages—three days at a brisk pace, four at a leisurely pace (the classic route breakdown includes five short sections, some of which can easily be combined or shortened). The terrain is moderate: there’s only one notable climb, the one up to the Bussen.

1. Oberdischingen → Munderkingen — along the Danube upstream, across the Nepomuk Bridge near Öpfingen and Rottenacker to the St. Dionysius City Church
2. Munderkingen → Buses — many forest trails through Uigendorf and Aderzhofen, ending with a steep climb to the pilgrimage church on the Holy Mountain
3. The Bus → Bad Saulgau — a straight downhill stretch through Göffingen and Dürmentingen, with its Loreto Chapel and Stations of the Cross, to the small spa town
4. Bad Saulgau → Habsthal Abbey — the longest stage — past the Franciscan convent in Sießen, through Friedberg and Rosna; a detour to the Bruder Klaus Chapel is possible
5. Habsthal Abbey → Pfullendorf — via Levertsweiler, through forests and a wetland; the pilgrim stamp awaits in St. Jakob

The route is marked with a yellow beam on a blue background—the focal point indicates the direction of travel, and only the route toward Santiago is marked. To be honest: Between Rottenacker and Munderkingen, the signage is sparse, and some signs are hanging crooked. Bring the GPS track with you—preferably right in the Camino Ninja app.

About the Holy Mountain: Bussen and Habsthal Abbey

The Bussen is the spiritual highlight of the trail—in the literal sense. The “Holy Mountain of Upper Swabia” has been a place of worship since prehistoric times; even the Celts offered sacrifices up here. The pilgrimage church of St. John the Baptist dates back to 1516, and the Marian pilgrimage to its Pietà has been documented since 1521—and on a clear day, the view stretches over 100 kilometers across the Alps, from Füssen to the Säntis. Next to it: the ruins of the Reichsburg, destroyed by Swedish troops in 1633 during the Thirty Years’ War.

Just before reaching your destination, you’ll find its counterpart in a minor key: Habsthal Abbey, founded in 1259 by Beguines from Mengen and inhabited by Benedictine nuns since 1892—today, two sisters still live there. The Baroque Church of St. Stephan surprises visitors with a ceiling fresco by Gottfried Bernhard Göz and stucco work by Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer; you can also stay overnight at the monastery.

And along the way, there’s a third special place: the Franciscan convent in Sießen near Bad Saulgau, where Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel worked—whose drawings became world-famous as Hummel figurines. Pilgrim rooms are available upon request.

Highlights Along the Way

• Danube Valley near Munderkingen — the young Danube winding through tight bends, with the Nepomuk Bridge near Öpfingen
• The Bus (767 m) — The Holy Mountain of Upper Swabia: Pilgrimage church dating from 1516, views of the Alps as far as Säntis, castle ruins
• Dürmentingen — Loretto Chapel with the Stations of the Cross (12 stations)
• Bad Saulgau — A spa town with the St. John's Parish Church
• Sießen Monastery — Franciscan Sisters, Home of the Hummel Figurines
• Habsthal Abbey — Benedictine convent founded in 1259, with the Baroque convent church of St. Stephen
• Pfullendorf — an old imperial city featuring the pilgrimage church of St. Jakob and a stamp to cap it all off

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

The natural inflow comes from Franconia: the Jakobsweg Nürnberg–Ulm ends at Ulm Minster — from there, the classic opening stage takes you up the Danube to Oberdischingen, and you are on this route.

From Ulm you can also choose your direction: the Oberschwäbischer Jakobsweg heads east via Biberach and Weingarten to Konstanz — this route is the western, quieter, monastery-studded alternative over the Bussen.

Continue the pilgrimage?

In Pfullendorf you meet the Linzgauer Jakobsweg, which takes you via Überlingen — including a boat passage across Lake Constance — to Konstanz. A practical bonus: together they crack the 100-kilometer mark from which the Beuron pilgrim community issues its Testimonium.

From Konstanz, the Via Jacobi leads through Switzerland via Einsiedeln to Geneva, then the Via Gebennensis to Le Puy-en-Velay, the Via Podiensis to the Pyrenees — and the Camino Francés all the way to Santiago de Compostela.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time to visit is from spring through fall; in winter, forest and field trails can sometimes be muddy. Accommodations are better than on many German trails, but they’re scattered: a pilgrim hostel in Oberdischingen, pilgrim rooms at Sießen Monastery (upon request), overnight stays at Habsthal Monastery, and private rooms and inns in Munderkingen, Bad Saulgau, and Pfullendorf. It’s worth calling ahead—especially for the monasteries.

You can obtain a pilgrim’s passport from the Pilgrimage Office at Beuron Archabbey or directly at the Pfullendorf Tourist Information Office; stamps are available at the churches and monasteries along the route, and at the end of the journey in St. Jakob Pfullendorf. If you can document that you’ve walked at least 100 kilometers, the Beuron St. James Pilgrimage Community will issue you a pilgrim certificate free of charge.

You can customize your stages however you like—the easiest way is to plan them directly in the Camino Ninja app, where you can put together your stages and book suitable accommodations at the same time.

What the journey will cost you

Expect to spend 60–100 € per day (as of August 2026): Monastery rooms and pilgrim hostels are inexpensive (often a donation or 20–40 €), while inns and guesthouses range from 50–90 € per room. As a spa town, Bad Saulgau also offers more upscale options.

You can save money by staying in monastery and hostel beds and buying snacks from the village store—places to stop for a bite to eat are few and far between, so be sure to plan your provisions for the forest sections of the trail.

Getting There

To get started: From Ulm Central Station, take the Donautalbahn toward Sigmaringen to Ehingen (Danube); from there, you can reach Oberdischingen by bus or on foot. Those taking the classic opening leg start right at Ulm Cathedral. Munderkingen also has its own train stop—convenient for joining the route later on.

Back from Pfullendorf: The town has no regular train service—buses run to Überlingen, Mengen, and Sigmaringen, among other places, to the nearest train stations; on summer weekends, the “Räuberbahn” runs seasonally toward Aulendorf. Or you can simply continue your journey toward Lake Constance.

• Rail: bahn.de— Danube Valley Railway: Ulm → Ehingen/Munderkingen; return trip via Sigmaringen or Überlingen
• Operator Information: via-beuronensis.de— Stages, Lodgings, and Pilgrimage Office of the Via Beuronensis