Riedholzer Kugel

The Riedholzer Kugel is a mountain rising to 1,065 metres in the Nagelfluh ranges between Lake Constance and the Wertach valley. It stands on the border of Grünenbach and Maierhöfen municipalities in the Lindau district of Bavaria’s Swabia region. The summit itself lies within Grünenbach’s territory, offering a clear high point in gently rolling uplands. The mountain is worth the journey for its place in the long ridge of Nagelfluh rock layers that stretches from the Sonneneck down to the Sulzberg near the Vorarlberg border. A sign at the top declares it the highest point in the West Allgäu, though nearby peaks such as the Kalzhofner Höhe and Schwarze Grat are higher depending on how the region’s boundaries are drawn. The contrast between these measured heights and the gentle grassy dome of the Riedholzer Kugel makes the climb worthwhile. Visitors reach the summit along grassy tracks that rise through quiet farmland and woodland. The view from the top takes in the rolling hills of the West Allgäu and, on clear days, the peaks of the Allgäu Alps. The nearby Eistobel gorge, cut by the Obere Argen river, adds a dramatic natural feature below the western slopes. The contrast of the open summit with the deep wooded gorge below makes the site memorable.