Conveniently located in one of Germany’s Biosphere Regions, the Swabian town of Pöttmes sure is pretty to look at. I’m sure that being located in Bavaria kinda helps.
The Mandlachsee does too. This lake, with its own sandy beach, makes for a grand time. That is, if you can take the chilly water temp. Yup, Mandlachsee is a cold water lake. Good for the circulation, I’m guessing.
Don’t worry about it, you can always warm up at the lakeside pub. There’s camping alongside it, so you don’t even have to go too far to snuggle up with someone special to keep warm.
Of course, you’ll be missing out on the rest of Pöttmes if you turn in now. A good photo op is the historical Markttor (Market Gate), just so you know.
I’d like to think you’d want to see Schloss Pöttmes (it’s the center of many of Pöttmes’ cultural events), too. Not much of anything remains of what is believed to be a 10th century castle at the Burgstall Wagesenberg in the village of Immendorf.
You don’t come all the way to Germany not to see any of its castles, or what used to be its castles. ;-)
You wouldn’t want to come this far not to see its many outstanding churches either. Just about every one of Pöttmes’ 13 districts has its own church, each with their own story and history.
Take the 18th century Pilgrimage Church in Baar, for example. OK, not all the churches in Pöttmes are pilgrimage churches, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come to see the 15th century tower at St. Mary’s in Schnellmannskreuth, and the Chapel of St. Joseph (1750) in Kühnhausen.
I like the fortified St. Mary Magdalene Church in Handzell and the Pfarrkirche (Parish Church) of St. Magnus in Schorn.
Schorn, by the way, is where you’ll find the Abschnittsbefestigung Schorn. A super long German word that simply means it’s an archaeological site. Quite fitting since folks have been making this place their home since prehistoric times.
With a little imagination you can kind of see how the conservation area of Echsheim might’ve looked way back then. And since the area is so pretty — you can see why some folks never left. ;-)
