Ebersberg: Forest, History and Traditions

Ebersberg combines a forest landscape with history and recurring traditions. The observation tower in the Ebersberg Forest leads up 169 steps to views across the entire Alpine foothills – from the Berchtesgaden Alps to the Allgäu. On particularly clear days, you can even see distant peaks over 3,000 metres high. This gives your trip a clear focus on nature; museums, historic sites and festivals offer further themes and times to visit.

Experience and Understand the Forest

The Forest and Environment Museum has stood right by the Ebersberg Forest since 2004. It explores the history of forest use and forest ecology, adding a cultural and natural history perspective to the views. The Ebersberg Forest Environmental Education Centre also focuses on education for sustainable development and has been awarded Bavaria’s “Umweltbildung.Bayern” quality seal for this work. Its events are held mainly outdoors and in the adjacent forest; visits with school classes and other groups are possible. A group visit therefore puts learning in the forest at the centre, while the observation tower opens up views of the landscape.

Roman Traces, Museum and Castle

A branch of the Roman road led to Roman farmsteads in Poing, which were discovered during construction work in 2004. The Museum of the City of Grafing presents artistic and historical highlights from the surrounding area, as well as insights into the lives and work of people around Grafing, in its special and permanent exhibitions. Schloss Elkofen offers a different historical perspective: it is located in Unterelkofen, two kilometres south of Grafing town centre, and is one of the best-preserved castles in Upper Bavaria. A wide, deep moat surrounds the castle; it was once filled with water. The themes are clearly distinct: Roman farmsteads, art and everyday life, or a castle with its moat.

Annual Festivals and Agriculture

The Kirchseeon Perchtenlauf is a firmly established part of the run-up to Christmas and attracts numerous visitors every year. Impressive masks, elaborate costumes, drums and bells shape the atmosphere in the market town of Kirchseeon. The Herrmannsdorfer farm festival offers a different focus: it takes place once a year at harvest time. It features regional specialities from the fire pit, porchetta, pastrami, bratwurst, fresh Auszogne pastries and freshly tapped Schweinsbräu beer; the barns and workshops also open their doors.

Herrmannsdorf is also known beyond the farm festival for its organic agriculture: the former estate east of Glonn is a model project known throughout the region. The Perchtenlauf and the farm festival offer different seasonal occasions to visit. If one of the festivals will shape your stay, check the specific event date in advance.

Opening Hours and Choosing Accommodation

The Museum of the City of Grafing lists its opening hours as Thursdays from 6 to 8 pm and Sundays from 2 to 4 pm; it is closed on public holidays. Check these hours again shortly before your visit. Your preferred themes and travel dates can help determine your choice of accommodation: if a festival is the main focus, the event date is key; if you are planning a museum visit, take the listed opening hours into account. This way, you can first decide what you would like to experience and when, then look for suitable accommodation.

Discover more destinations: Aßling, Zorneding, Vaterstetten, Hohenlinden, Grafing bei München, Glonn, Egmating, Ebersberg, Markt Schwaben, Anzing, Baiern, Kirchseeon, Poing, Pliening, Forstinning, Oberpframmern, Steinhöring.

View the full travel overview: Bavaria.