Discover Aunham

Aunham combines sacred architectural history, a remarkable burial mound cemetery, and hikes with views of the Rottauen. The connection between history and landscape is especially clear at the Church of St. John the Baptist, a subsidiary church: it is a tangible cultural site and also a point reached near the beginning of one of the official hiking routes. When planning your trip, you can choose different focuses—from church and local history to outdoor activities.

The Church of St. John the Baptist, a subsidiary church

The origins of the subsidiary church date back to the mid-12th century. The present-day late Gothic church, by contrast, dates from the end of the 15th century. This span of time highlights the difference between the church’s earlier beginnings and its later form. Its bells also tell of different centuries: the church preserves a small bell that probably dates from the 14th century. Bells from the 14th and 15th centuries hang in the tower; they are among the oldest in the Rottal-Inn district.

Here, several historical milestones come together in one place: the origins of the subsidiary church, the late Gothic church, and the bells, whose ages are assigned to different periods. For visitors interested in regional architectural and church history, this is a specific reason to include Aunham in their travel plans. The church is also part of the beginning of hike 06 a, so the route description brings together cultural and hiking themes.

The burial mound cemetery at Aunhamer Spitz

Another historical highlight is the burial mound cemetery at “Aunhamer Spitz” near Aunham. It contains at least 114 burials and is one of the largest in Lower Bavaria. This number conveys the scale of this special site, which need not be treated as merely an addition to the church: it offers its own perspective on the history of the area. Together, the subsidiary church and the burial mound cemetery show that Aunham can be explored from more than one historical perspective.

Hikes and views

The hike “06 a. Bad Birnbach – Burial Mound Loop with Bella Vista, including shortcut” passes the church in Aunham near the start. The route offers views of the Rottauen; in favorable föhn conditions, visibility extends to the Alps. The distant Alpine views therefore depend on particular weather conditions, while the Rottauen are also part of the scenery.

The official hikes around Bad Birnbach differ in length and difficulty rating. The easy “06 a. Bad Birnbach – Burial Mound Loop with Bella Vista, including shortcut” is 5 kilometers long. The moderate “06. Bad Birnbach – Burial Mound Loop with Bella Vista” covers 6.3 kilometers. The 11.6-kilometer “07 a. Bad Birnbach – Great Birnbach Loop with Bella Vista, Burial Mounds, Wooden Chapel” is also rated moderate. This lets you compare the routes by their stated distance and difficulty rather than relying on their names alone. As distances and ratings may be updated, check the details again before setting off.

More experiences in the wider destination of Bad Birnbach

The wider destination of Bad Birnbach offers other cultural and landscape-related experiences, which are distinct from the local sights in Aunham. The meditation trail starts at the Artrium and runs for about 700 meters through the spa gardens of Bad Birnbach. Its stations offer prompts and drawings created especially for the trail by Thomas Richter. This trail focuses on specially designed points for reflection, while hike 06 a centers on the church, the Rottauen, and possible views of the Alps.

Bad Birnbach is also home to cultural offerings. Since 2013, the permanent historical exhibition “1,200 Years of Bad Birnbach” has been on display in two rooms of the former monastery. The Artrium hosts concerts ranging from classical music to rock ’n’ roll. Bad Birnbach also has an idyllic floodplain landscape and a cycle path. Bella Vista Golfpark is a municipally operated golf course. These themes offer different travel interests from Aunham’s church and burial mound cemetery; the exhibition, concerts, landscape, cycle path, and golf course are all offerings in the wider destination of Bad Birnbach.

Base your choice on which of these themes matter to your trip, and check the location of a specific accommodation against your own plans.

Discover more destinations: Bad Griesbach-Therme, Karpfham.

Back to the wider travel overview: Bad Griesbach Im Rottal.