The medieval town walls encircling the Altstadt of Schongau are among the best-preserved in Bavaria, with most of the original towers and wall sections still standing. The walls date largely from the 14th and 15th centuries, when Schongau was a prosperous town on the salt and textile trade routes. Walking the full circuit of the walls — possible in under an hour — gives a clear sense of the town's original extent and the quality of its fortifications.
Several towers can be entered or viewed from the path along the walls, including the Wittelsbacher Tor, a fortified gate tower at the western approach to the Altstadt. The most scenic section of the walk is the southern stretch, where the walls run along the edge of the Lechbuckel hill with views over the river valley below.