Markt Indersdorf: Monastery History and the Glonn Valley

Markt Indersdorf lies in the varied hilly landscape of the Glonn Valley. The town’s history is closely connected with the Augustinian Canons’ monastery, founded by Count Palatine Otto IV of Wittelsbach in 1120. The monastery complex and museum tell a multifaceted story, complemented by routes through the Glonn Valley, a weekly market and recurring festivals. This makes it possible to tailor your stay to different interests: focusing on architectural history, taking a walking or cycling tour, or visiting during an event.

Monastery History in Several Building Phases

The monastery’s first church was consecrated in 1128 by Archbishop Conrad of Salzburg in honour of the Mother of God and the Apostles Peter and Paul. After the great fire of 1249, the church and monastery complex were rebuilt. The church was constructed as a three-aisled Romanesque basilica without a transept, with three apses of approximately equal height, a flat wooden ceiling and a north tower. The foundations of this basilica have survived beneath the church’s present-day Rococo exterior. Under Provost Gelasius Morhardt, who served from 1748 to 1768, the church acquired its Rococo appearance. These different features tell the story of a building whose form developed over several centuries.

The monastery’s history extends beyond its architectural forms: seven Wittelsbach counts palatine are buried within the area enclosed by the present-day monastery walls. This makes Indersdorf one of the early Wittelsbach family monasteries, alongside Scheyern and Ensdorf. With the support of the Bavarian dukes, more than 24 monasteries in Bavaria and beyond were reformed from Indersdorf.

The Augustinian Canons’ Museum

The permanent exhibition at the Augustinian Canons’ Museum is devoted specifically to the Augustinian Canons. The museum is housed in the former sacristan’s house and the adjoining northern gate tower. Both buildings were part of the monastery complex and are now protected historic monuments.

The exhibition also covers the monastery’s varied uses after secularisation in the 18th century. These included use as an orphanage run by the Salesian Sisters and the Sisters of Mercy, as a Nazi educational institution, and as an international UNRRA centre caring for foreign unaccompanied children and young people in the immediate post-war period. After the Second World War, Markt Indersdorf became a place of refuge for more than 1,000 young survivors of Nazi persecution. They initially found a safe environment here before returning home or emigrating.

Routes Through the Glonn Valley

Numerous hiking and cycling routes lead through the Glonn Valley and its varied hilly countryside. Three named routes can be distinguished by their lengths and starting points. Route descriptions from June 2021 list the 12 km Marterl cycling route, which starts and finishes at the Volksfestplatz. The “Views of Albersbach & Westerholzhausen” walking route is 8.5 km long and starts and finishes at Indersdorf station. A 9.5 km section of the Oxenweg leads via Langenpettenbach to Westerholzhausen and starts and finishes at the market square. Check current route conditions before setting out.

The eastern loop of the 7 Monasteries Trail can also be started in Markt Indersdorf; the first monastery on the route is located here. The trail is signposted throughout with a church logo and features information boards about its history. The different starting points for the local routes and the option to join the eastern loop give you several ways to plan your stay around a particular distance or theme.

Weekly Market and Festivals

The Indersdorf weekly market takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon in the Unterer Markt area on Freisinger Straße. As a “green market”, it offers food as well as products of fruit and horticulture, agriculture and forestry, and raw natural products. Check the published schedule again before your visit.

The “Advent at the Monastery” Christmas market takes place on the second weekend of Advent each year. Markt Indersdorf’s traditional market festival is celebrated over two days on the first weekend in August, with a varied programme on the market square. Check the specific dates for your travel year if you would like to plan your stay around the market festival.

More Things to Do in the Municipality

Ainhofen outdoor swimming pool has two heated pools: a swimming pool with a constant water temperature of around 23 °C and a children’s pool at around 26 °C. Check current opening arrangements before visiting. This attraction in the municipality can be included in your travel plans alongside the monastery’s history, the market and the walking routes.

When looking for accommodation, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay: the monastery and museum, a particular route, the weekly market or a festival date. If you are travelling for a market festival or a tour, you can take current event dates or route conditions into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Niederroth, Hebertshausen, Erdweg, Petershausen, Sulzemoos, Schwabhausen, Karlsfeld, Bergkirchen.

For the broader travel overview: Dachau.