Discover Baar (Schwaben): music and pilgrimage nearby

Annual calendar at Maria im Elend

Recurring events at the Maria im Elend pilgrimage chapel give the year a special character around Baar (Schwaben). The chapel is located between Thierhaupten and Baar. The Forest Christmas celebration takes place there every year on a Sunday in winter; the Swabian musicians from Gersthofen traditionally provide the musical accompaniment. Smaller pilgrimages are held at the chapel from time to time.

At the end of May, comrades’ and soldiers’ associations hold a festive annual service at Maria im Elend. The Forest Christmas celebration and the service mark different seasons: a Sunday in winter and late spring. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these dates, check the specific event dates in advance.

The wider Aichach-Friedberg destination also offers another theme: the history of brewing. Schlossbrauerei Unterbaar is one of the local breweries in the Wittelsbacher Land and is among Bavaria’s oldest private breweries. This means there is plenty to explore, from religious traditions nearby to a regional culinary and cultural landmark.

Aichach-Friedberg: trails and culture in the wider destination

In the wider Aichach-Friedberg destination, you can compare different types of routes. The Paartal hiking trail follows the middle stretch of the Paar River from Aichach to Gut Schenkenau in the district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen and is 36.8 km long in total. By contrast, the hiking brochure “Hiking in Aichach – The most beautiful walks around Aichach” presents 15 walks and hiking trails in and around Aichach. This puts a single hiking route with clearly named endpoints alongside a selection of several trails. For cyclists, the Aichach-Friedberg district cycling map features 14 well-signposted themed cycling routes. Check trail conditions before setting off.

The wider Aichach-Friedberg destination also offers culture lovers different ways to explore history. In Aichach, the town museum vividly tells the story of the town; the Wittelsbach Museum is housed in the Lower Gate. Aichach’s historic old town has changed little over the centuries. The Wittelsbachs’ ancestral castle stood in Aichach’s Oberwittelsbach district. In Friedberg, a different period takes centre stage: the Herrgottsruh pilgrimage church was built from 1731 to 1753 and is considered one of the finest examples of Bavarian Rococo. Friedberg’s Wittelsbach Castle dates back to a high medieval fortress built around 1257 under Duke Louis II the Strict.

The Inchenhofen Pilgrimage Museum also reveals a distinctive side of regional history. It is located in Haus St. Leonhard, a former Cistercian brewery building, and displays iron and wax votive offerings, ploughshares, horseshoes, and neck and hand restraints. The museum documents the significance of Saint Leonhard and St. Leonhard Church as a much-visited pilgrimage destination. These tangible objects add concrete evidence to the story of pilgrimage.

Choose the right location

A clear priority can help you choose your accommodation: should the seasonal events near Baar shape your stay, or would you prefer to plan around the cultural and outdoor destinations in the wider Aichach-Friedberg area? Choose a location that suits the places at the heart of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Rehling, Friedberg, Petersdorf, Kühbach, Schiltberg, Ried, Dasing, Merching

Back to the wider travel overview: Aichach-Friedberg.