Schlehdorf: Monastic History, Moorland and Lake Kochel

Schlehdorf combines a distinctive townscape with a long monastic history. Church tours, a digital audio walk and cycling tours through the moor offer different ways to explore the area.

Townscape and Monastic History

Schlehdorf looks back on more than 1,250 years of history. Its first documented mention as “villa slehdorf” appears in the founding charter of Schlehdorf-Scharnitz Monastery, dated 29 June 763. The town centre also tells the story of a defining turning point: its layout is reminiscent of a Roman fortress. This structure dates back to the near-total destruction of the town in a devastating fire in 1846.

Guided tours of St. Tertulin Parish Church take place monthly. From July to October, monthly tours on the history of the monastery are also offered there; check the dates before your visit. The church’s Baroque organ was completed in 1783 and is considered the only surviving sonic monument by Allgäu organ builder Franz Thoma of Aitrang. Schlehdorf’s Organ Autumn, featuring organ concerts, is a fitting complement: since its revival in autumn 2022, it has once again taken place regularly every year in September. Check the current dates before planning your visit.

The cemetery is home to the Church of the Cross, built in the 17th century. It houses a Romanesque wooden crucifix dating from around 1200 AD; the church is open seasonally. Since summer 2025, the digital audio walk “763 – A Monastery Village Through the Ages” has also been available. It explores the original monastery, the monastery church and the history of the monastery.

Cycling Between Moor and Lake

The easy Klosterrunde cycling tour starts and ends at the Gasthof Klosterbräu and is 23.54 kilometres long. It passes through the Loisach-Kochelsee-Moos, a protected landscape with rare flora and fauna. Family-friendly cycling tours on flat paths through the Loisach-Kochelsee moors are also available from Schlehdorf. These areas contain extensive habitats for rare animal and plant species. For a sporting challenge, mountain bike tours to the Herzogstandhaus at 1,575 metres are considered demanding; they involve more than 1,000 metres of elevation gain.

KlosterGut Schlehdorf is a few minutes’ walk from Lake Kochel, between mountains and moorland. It manages a total of 65 hectares, including biotopes and a lake. On the farm grounds below the historic monastery complex, KlosterGut operates an organic vegetable garden. A 90-minute round trip by motor vessel is available from the Schlehdorf landing stage on Lake Kochel. Check the current timetable before planning your trip.

Farm Café and Seasonal Offerings

KlosterGut includes a farm shop and a café with outdoor seating. The seasonal farm café serves coffee and homemade cakes in the former sheepfold or outside. Out of season, a limited selection of coffee and cakes is available in the farm shop, which also has outdoor seating. Bear this seasonal difference in mind when planning a visit.

More Options in Winter and the Region

The Reuterbühler cross-country ski trail in Schlehdorf is a 5.2-kilometre loop. Depending on snow conditions, it is groomed for skating and/or classic-style skiing. Trail access points are on Unterauer Straße, opposite the sports field, and on An der Breiten at the entrance to the town.

In the wider Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen destination, the Tölzer Land climatic health park has 37 routes on a network of more than 340 kilometres between Bad Heilbrunn, Bad Tölz, Kochel am See, Wackersberg and Lenggries. Check the current route information if you include this regional selection in your plans.

If you would also like to consider options across the wider region, include the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen destination in your search.

Discover more destinations: Bichl, Wolfratshausen, Bad Tölz, Greiling, Sachsenkam, Benediktbeuern, Kochel am See, Icking.

Back to the regional travel overview: Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.