Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen: Culture, Trails and Nature

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen combines historic city experiences with hiking trails, local traditions and nature paths. The Tölzer Land tourism brand represents all 21 towns and municipalities in the district. When planning your trip, an easy question to start with is: would you like to focus on local history and culture, or spend most of your time outdoors? Options range from short walks to longer routes; Bad Tölz also hosts the annual Leonhardifahrt.

Hiking trails: short loops and extensive networks

The Tölzer Land health climate park encompasses 37 routes across a network of more than 340 kilometers between Bad Heilbrunn, Bad Tölz, Kochel am See, Wackersberg and Lenggries. The number of routes may change, so check the current trail network when making specific plans. The hiking options also include six signposted Nordic walking routes, ranging from 2 to 8.6 kilometers in length. This range can be compared with the Benediktusweg: the meditative circular trail around Benediktbeuern Monastery in the Loisach-Kochelsee Moor passes twelve stations. There, the teachings of Saint Benedict are presented and explored in more depth through QR codes and audio files.

In Wolfratshausen, the easy Loisachweg runs for 3.34 kilometers along the Loisach, passing traces of the timber rafting trade, the Kastenmühlwehr weir and the Floßlände landing. The stated walking time is 49 minutes. This means there are options for different timeframes: a walk with a stated duration, a short themed trail and an extensive network of routes. Guided monastery trails can also be booked. The pilgrimage days are led and accompanied by trained, experienced pilgrimage guides from the Catholic adult education center of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen. Check dates and booking conditions in advance.

Local history and living traditions

A walking tour of Wolfratshausen’s historic town center introduces the city’s thousand-year history and its residents. Stops include St. Andreas Parish Church, built in 1484, the Humpelbräu and the craftsmen’s houses. At the Wolfratshausen Museum, objects of all sizes donated by residents tell the story of domestic culture, arts and crafts, trades, commerce and contemporary history. The BADEHAUS Memorial Site in the Waldram district is devoted to the region’s contemporary history. An audio guide takes visitors through either the permanent exhibition or a historical walking tour of the district.

The annual Leonhardifahrt in Bad Tölz offers a different perspective on the region. It is considered the largest Leonhardifahrt in Upper Bavaria and one of the most beautiful horse pilgrimages in Germany; it attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year. The procession follows a set order along Marktstraße up to Calvary Hill and the Leonhard Chapel. A service is held there, including a blessing for the participants. The procession then circles the Leonhard Chapel, built in 1718, twice before returning to Marktstraße. If you would like to see the procession, check the dates and program for the relevant year.

Nature paths, cycling tours and special discoveries

At Blomberg, the Discovery Trail combines hands-on activities and puzzles with wooden telescopes, stories for children and views of environmental features. The trail is open from spring to autumn. The Forest Experience Trail has a different focus: its 19 stations explain the importance of the forest ecosystem and invite visitors to experience the forest with all their senses. The Pupplinger Au nature reserve borders Wolfratshausen to the north. Extensive gravel banks and wild riparian forest shape the landscape at the confluence of the Loisach and Isar rivers.

If you prefer to explore on two wheels, there is a road cycling tour to Walchensee. It starts in Wolfratshausen and runs via Bad Heilbrunn, Lake Kochel and Kesselberg to Walchensee, then returns via Bad Tölz. For a different way to explore the city’s history, the MeinBankerl Trail starts in Wolfratshausen’s old town, right in front of the Loisachhalle. The approximately six-kilometer route takes in numerous well-known filming locations from the series “Hubert und/ohne Staller”; a shorter route of about four kilometers is also available. Check whether the app is available if you plan to use it for the tour. The Flößerei audio trail also explores a local theme, introducing the old craft through audio and video files. Raft trips from Wolfratshausen to Munich are a tourist attraction for visitors from across Europe; check availability and booking separately.

Getting here, experiences and choosing accommodation

The X970 express bus connects Bad Tölz, the Isar Valley, Geretsried, Wolfratshausen and Starnberg. You can get off at various stops to sightsee; check the route and service information before traveling. The S7 suburban train connects Wolfratshausen with Munich. According to the municipality’s information, Munich is about 25 kilometers to the north. Check the current timetable when planning your journey. In Königsdorf, the Isartal Observatory has what regional tourism information describes as the largest telescope in the Oberland for observing stars and planets.

When looking for accommodation, it helps to decide which experiences matter most to you first. A stay focused on city walks and museums calls for different priorities than a program featuring a cycling route, nature trail or the Leonhardifahrt. So include your preferred starting point in your choice.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Egling, Benediktbeuern, Lenggries, Schlehdorf, Münsing, Kochel Am See, Bad Tölz, Bad Heilbrunn, Wackersberg, Icking, Geretsried, Jachenau, Eurasburg, Wolfratshausen, Dietramszell, Gaißach, Sankt Heinrich, Bichl, Greiling, Königsdorf, Reichersbeuern and Sachsenkam.

Go to the regional travel overview: Bavaria.