Pittenhart: Salt Road, Roman History and Chiemsee Views

The Salt Road, Roman history and views of Lake Chiemsee give Pittenhart a tangible historical and scenic setting. Its story includes both traces preserved over time and a recurring pilgrimage. If you are considering the village for a trip, you can distinguish between local history, scenery and a special date in the annual calendar.

The Salt Road and the Landscape

The route of the historic “Golden Salt Road” can still be traced across the entire municipality of Pittenhart. The hill known as “Kanabe” in Höhenberg offers another way to experience the landscape: from there, it affords beautiful views of Lake Chiemsee. Pittenhart is also close to the Seeoner Seen nature reserve and the nature reserves of the Eggstätt lake district. These connections offer different perspectives, from the historic route through the municipality to nearby protected areas.

Church Art and Roman Connections

St. Nicholas Parish Church in Pittenhart houses figures of Saint Erasmus, created by the Master of Seeon around 1430. The church’s left side altar was created by Johann Georg Lindt in 1766. The two works reflect different periods in the history of local art.

Roman history is also a theme at several locations in Pittenhart. A Roman sanctuary is located on Höhenberg. A Roman column is still incorporated into the lower floor of Oberbrunn Castle, suggesting that a Roman fort once stood here. In front of the “Alte Zollstation” inn, a sculpture of a team of oxen pulling a wagon and an information board point to Pittenhart’s location on the route of the Roman road from Salzburg to Augsburg. The “Tafern of Pittenhart” in the Alte Zollstation probably dates back to before 1200. Pittenhart’s contribution to the overall “Römerregion Chiemsee” project was officially presented at the church in the village centre. Nearby, the plague cemetery was established in 1634.

Pilgrimage to Maria Eck

A major pilgrimage from Pittenhart to Maria Eck takes place every year at the end of September. The parish describes it as a tradition that has continued for many hundreds of years. Unlike the works of art and historic sites, this event recurs at a particular time of year. If you are interested, check the date and participation information before travelling.

Pittenhart in the Wider Traunstein Destination

The wider Traunstein destination takes in the whole district: it includes Lake Chiemsee and Lake Waging, as well as more than 170 alpine pastures and peaks reaching heights of up to 2,000 metres in the Chiemgau Alps. The town of Traunstein also has its own cultural and historical connection to the salt trade. The surviving saltworks buildings and the saltworks chapel offer insight into this history; the saltworks chapel is the largest chapel in Germany.

Pittenhart offers specific points of interest, including the route of the Salt Road, church art, Roman connections and views of Lake Chiemsee from Kanabe. If you would also like to include the lakes and the Chiemgau Alps, or the salt history of the town of Traunstein, in your travel plans, the wider region is worth considering too. Search for accommodation in Pittenhart if its local history and landscape are to be at the heart of your trip.

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