Discover Großhartpenning

Großhartpenning combines a historic village center with experiences at Hahnhof and winter cross-country skiing opportunities. The Parish Church of the Visitation of Mary, a chapel on the way to Kleinhartpenning and views of the Tegernsee Mountains offer contrasting historical and scenic highlights. You can tailor your stay to your interests in church art, hands-on activities or winter exercise.

Church art and history

The Parish Church of the Visitation of Mary is a clearly recognizable focal point of Großhartpenning. Hartpenning was first mentioned in a document in 795 and again in 804. The present-day church was built in the 15th century as a Late Gothic tuff ashlar building. Its furnishings include a painting by Johann Baptist Zimmermann that is still well preserved: it depicts Saints Henry and Cunigunde and dates from 1746. The early documentary mentions, the Late Gothic church building and the 18th-century painting thus represent different historical reference points.

The parish church also includes a chapel dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk, whose construction began in 1735. A circular central space was created on the eastern side of the Gothic three-sided apse. A three-sided apse is the three-sided end of the Gothic church interior; the circular space creates a contrasting architectural form on its eastern side.

On the way from Großhartpenning to Kleinhartpenning, St. Cosmas and Damian Chapel offers views of the southern mountain range of the Tegernsee Mountains. Inside the chapel is a relief of the Lamentation of Christ, which is venerated as a miraculous image and probably dates from the early 16th century. The mountain views and the relief offer two very different points of interest along this stretch of the route.

The annual church concert is scheduled to take place again at the Church of the Visitation of Mary on November 8, 2026. If the date is important to your trip, check it again before setting out.

Experiences and cross-country skiing

Experiences and scythe courses are offered at Hahnhof in Großhartpenning. On the “Drive a combine harvester” experience, participants drive a historic combine harvester across fields and meadows and discover 1960s technology. Combining the chance to drive it yourself with an insight into the history of technology makes this a different way to engage with agriculture than simply looking at machinery. Check dates and booking details for experiences and courses before your visit.

In winter, there are two cross-country skiing options with different classifications: the “To Klein- and Großhartpenning” loop is rated intermediate and described as family-friendly; the short loop on the Großhartpenning trail is also suitable for beginners. Seasonal conditions can affect trail usability, so it is worth checking current conditions before setting out.

More perspectives in the wider destination of Holzkirchen

In the wider destination of Holzkirchen, the Holzkirchen Geo-Educational Trail (GLH) offers a choice of two circular routes with 24 stops in total. The 16-kilometer northern route starts and ends at Holzkirchen station; the 19-kilometer southern route starts and ends at Herdergarten. The distances and start and end points make it easy to distinguish the two routes. The trail explains glacial geomorphological phenomena in the Holzkirchen area, including retreat stages of the terminal moraines, former meltwater channels and the formation of the Teufelsgraben.

Holzkirchen itself also offers a range of cultural activities. KULTUR im Oberbräu brings together theater, literature, cabaret, music, concerts, cinema, exhibitions, food and drink, and more. The FoolsKino at KULTUR im Oberbräu has 73 seats and screens a multi-award-winning selection of films; the FoolsTheater has event space for up to 130 spectators. The foyer is open to artists from the region for exhibitions, and the rehearsal room offers a variety of participatory courses for all ages.

For a different focus, BATUSA Holzkirchen has a 25-meter-long, 12.5-meter-wide swimming pool, a large water slide, a heated outdoor pool and a children's paddling pool. In summer, there is also a large sunbathing lawn. From Holzkirchen, Munich city center can be reached in about 30 minutes by S-Bahn or Bayerische Oberlandbahn. Holzkirchen's facilities and rail connections can therefore serve as additional points of reference when planning your trip.

View the wider travel guide: Holzkirchen.