Epfach


Epfach is a village and former municipality located on the left bank of Lech, in the municipality of Denklingen in the Upper Bavarian District of Landsberg, Bavaria, Germany.

History

Around 14 BCE there was, near the present village, on the hill later called Lorenzberg, directly on the Lech, a Roman road station with about 80 soldiers and riders. These had the task of securing the intersection of the Via Claudia with the old salt road, which came from Salzburg, and here crossed the Lech, then on to Kempten. At the time, it was the most important road junction in southern Bavaria.
From 50 CE, the castra became unnecessary. The expansion of the Roman Empire made surrounding area safe enough. Now a settlement was built on the site, in which craftsmen and traders settled. It was named Abodiacum.
In 233, the Alemanni destroyed the settlement and left a field of rubble. But between 260 and 270, the site of Lorenzberg was re-populated, but this time with an enclosure wall built out of fear of Germanic raids.
Around 355, the settlement was again destroyed by the Alemanni, but soon colonized and rebuilt by the Romans. Until 388 Roman troops were stationed on the Lorenzberg.
Around 370 or 380 a rectangular hall building with a three-part choir end was built on the highest point of the Lorenzberg, which is interpreted as a Christian "community building". After 955, a larger church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, was built, partly over the oldest church from the 4th century. The former coat of arms shows a Roman oil lamp together with the golden Christogram.
Today, the town lies on the long-distance cycling route, which runs along the Via Claudia Augusta. On 1 July 1972, the previously independent municipality, which belonged to the erstwhile Schongau district, was incorporated into the municipality of Denklingen.

Visitor attractions