Wonneberg: Pilgrimage Church and Ridge

Wonneberg brings together the St. Leonhard pilgrimage church and a landscape of ridges, forests and raised bogs. The church stands in the municipality of Wonneberg, at the highest point of a hill. Here, a striking architectural landmark meets paths through the rolling countryside—a charming starting point if you would like to include both culture and outdoor activity in your travel plans.

St. Leonhard: Late Gothic Church and Baroque Tower

The present-day late Gothic pilgrimage church was built in 1496 under Salzburg Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach and Waging parish priest Georg Stroppel. The wall and ceiling paintings date from 1631/1633 and are considered valuable art-historical examples of the early Baroque period. The high altar also combines different eras: it incorporates four late Gothic wing panels by Gordian Guckh, dating from around 1513.

A prominent landmark visible from afar is the 52-metre-high Baroque onion dome tower with its four bells. In the nave, a display case on the north wall shows surviving votive offerings: horseshoes, stirrups, spurs and human figures. These details offer several perspectives on a visit to the church—from its late Gothic furnishings to the later paintings and the preserved votive offerings. Mr Parzinger and Mr Reinmiedl are the contacts for church tours.

Hiking Trails in Wonneberg and a Cycling Route through St. Leonhard

The “St. Leonhard Circular Trail 6” starts at the church and is 5.7 kilometres long. Its elevation ranges from 589 to 465 metres above sea level. For the “Wonneberg Circular Trail 5,” the trail markers start in Köpfelsberg; the route is 5.6 kilometres long and runs at an elevation of 588 to 559 metres above sea level. The trails differ in length by just 0.1 kilometres. For planning a day out, you can therefore compare them by their respective starting points and the stated elevation ranges. On Circular Trail 5, a visit to the pilgrimage church is recommended before returning.

St. Leonhard is also part of a cycling route: the 55-kilometre “Chiemsee – Waginger See” cycle path passes through the village. Another local tradition is the Wonneberg Leonhardiritt, which has been continued by the Wonneberg Leonhardi Association since 1973. The hiking trails, cycle route and Leonhardiritt offer different options for planning your trip: you can focus on outdoor activity, culture or local tradition without combining them into a single itinerary.

Ridges, Forests and Raised Bogs

The ridges along the southern edge of the Waginger Basin were shaped and left behind by the Salzach Glacier. Their highest point, at 629 metres, lies north of Reichwimm. Forests cover about a third of the municipality of Wonneberg; together with its many raised bogs, they give the landscape its distinctive appeal. Alongside the church, this offers a second perspective on the area: its shaped landscape and varied natural features.

For a broader regional perspective, the Traunstein destination offers further contrasts. Chiemsee and Waginger See are both in the Traunstein district; the Chiemgau Alps are home to more than 170 alpine pastures and peaks reaching up to 2,000 metres. This gives you a chance to decide what you want to focus on before looking for accommodation.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

From Traunstein railway station, local trains and RVO buses provide direct connections to Weibhausen in the municipality of Wonneberg. For detailed planning, check the timetable for your chosen connection. By car, take the Traunstein/Siegsdorf exit (km 98.5) on the A8 and drive via Traunstein towards Waging am See to Weibhausen. Turn off there; after a few kilometres, you will reach the centre of the municipality of Wonneberg, the main village of St. Leonhard.

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