Discover Pfarrkirchen: Churches, Art and City History

Pfarrkirchen offers visitors the chance to explore different chapters of the town’s history and culture: churches with histories of their own, art in the historic town hall, and traces of the former town fortifications. Traditional horse races are also part of the events calendar. On your trip, you can choose from a range of themes, including architecture, exhibitions and seasonal experiences.

Churches and Architectural History

The Catholic town parish church is under the patronage of the Apostles Simon and Jude Thaddeus. The pilgrimage church of St Mary, also known as Gartlberg Church, stands on Gartlberg and is a distinctive landmark of Pfarrkirchen. In 1972, the carved Stations of the Cross from the town parish church were incorporated into the 15-station Way of the Cross on the path to Gartlberg. The two churches and the Way of the Cross bring together different aspects of the town’s religious history.

The Erasmus House, formerly the Erasmus Chapel, adds a distinctive architectural feature. This octagonal central-plan building with a tent roof dates from the 15th century and is one of the region’s most notable Late Gothic buildings. Those interested in historic architectural styles will find a point of comparison with the churches here: the Erasmus House stands out for its unusual ground plan and Late Gothic classification.

Town History, Museum and Art

The Old Town Hall stands at the northwest corner of the town square. The Museum in the Old Town Hall displays examples of historic crafts and rural art from Pfarrkirchen and the middle Rottal. The collection thus brings together works from two areas of origin: the town and the middle Rottal. It complements the churches and buildings with a glimpse of crafts and rural art.

The Hans-Reiffenstuel House was formerly a warehouse in the railway station area. The town bought and renovated the building in 1995 and opened it in March 1997. Today, it houses an exhibition space, the local music centre and the town library, which features the permanent exhibition “Local Wildlife.” Several major art exhibitions are held on the ground floor each year in collaboration with the Münchener Secession artists’ association, and admission is free. If you plan to visit an exhibition, check the current programme in advance.

The former hospital church is used for concerts and theatre performances, and for a nativity scene exhibition during the Christmas season. It is open only for these events. Plan your visit around the relevant performances or the Christmas-season nativity scene exhibition.

Ringallee and Seasonal Experiences

Ringallee encircles the old town of Pfarrkirchen and was laid out on the site of the town’s former defensive rampart. Features include remains of the old town wall dating from 1558, various fountains and green spaces. It is also home to an international sculpture exhibition featuring prominent sculptors of the 20th and 21st centuries. Ringallee thus brings together historic structures, green spaces and public art; it is considered unique in Lower Bavaria.

Traditional horse races are held every year over the Whitsun weekend at Bavaria’s oldest racecourse. For this seasonal event, it is worth checking the exact dates for your planned visit.

More to Explore in the Wider Rottal-Inn Destination

The wider Rottal-Inn destination offers additional attractions with a distinct regional character. Rottal Terme has more than 30 pleasantly warm thermal pools, ranging from 26 to 40°C, as well as 13 different saunas and steam baths. Other facilities include a 105-metre-long thermal stream and health, prevention and wellness services. Theatre an der Rott presents premieres every year in drama, musicals, concerts, dance, operetta and opera. It is the only theatre in Germany owned by a district; productions vary.

For those interested in Gothic architecture, the “Gothic Tours” offer residents and visitors a way to explore selected monuments. Brochures, maps, the tour portal and the Gothic portal help you find your way. The Gothic portal also provides on-site access to audio guides for Gothic buildings, as well as an online museum with information and learning resources.

Nature and outdoor activities are also part of the wider Rottal-Inn region. The Inn Cycle Path runs through the Lower Inn European Nature Reserve and offers a variety of ways to discover local flora and fauna in the Rottal-Inn leisure region. The region has a well-developed, extensive network of routes, with several hundred kilometres for hikers and cyclists. For planning your own route, the tour portal provides details of elevation profiles and trail conditions, as well as GPX downloads. The Rottaler Hoftour focuses on rural life, everyday work, wildlife, farming culture, traditional crafts, handicraft techniques and regional specialities.

You can tailor your search to your travel interests without treating these different places and themes as if they were the same.

Discover more destinations: Arnstorf, Bad Birnbach, Dietersburg, Stubenberg, Roßbach, Schönau, Triftern, Bayerbach.

Go to the wider travel overview: Rottal-Inn.