Schongau, Romantic Road

Located along the River Lech is the new town of Schongau. Although it is over 700 years old, the original Schongau was a few miles to the northeast of the current town. Sometime in the 13th century, many residents moved from the old Schongau and established a new settlement. When they left, they took the town’s name with them.

Schongau was a prosperous trading route and commercial centre until America was discovered, and the trading route was relocated. The town fell into poverty and decay until post-WWII, when middle-class refugees settled in the area and turned the tide for the town’s economy.

Surrounded by a well-preserved city wall, Schongau maintains a medieval feel through its buildings and parishes. One of the highlights is the Schongau City Museum, exhibiting the city’s history along with a rare collection of coins. The original museum began in 1891 and prospered for several years until the advent of WWI, when it was forced to close. Throughout the 20th century, the museum opened and closed several times due to wars, looting and financial difficulties, but each time it reopened, it focused on the story it wanted to represent, restoring its collections and actively acquiring new ones. In 2004, after yet another closure, the Historical Association of Schongau took over the museum's management.

The coin collection is a result of Schongau’s history of minting currency. In 1331, Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian gave Schongau the right to mint. During that time, several other towns minted coins, and they were either royal or episcopal issues. The coins from Schongau were classified as royal issues, of which a collection is exhibited in the museum, along with a history of how money developed from its early beginnings to the present day.