Großholzhausen: Chapel and Way of St. James

Großholzhausen offers two distinct ways to spend your stay: church history at the chapel, oak cross and parish church, and outdoor activity on the Way of St. James. The Lourdes Chapel invites you to quiet contemplation, while Stage 17 of the Way of St. James, rated moderate, offers a longer hiking option. When planning your trip, it is therefore helpful to consider whether cultural history or hiking will be the focus; you can also use this to guide your accommodation search.

Chapel, remembrance and church tradition

The Lourdes Chapel in Großholzhausen was built in 1912 by the Mairbauer family out of gratitude and in fulfilment of a vow. A Lourdes grotto is located at the centre of the chapel. The chapel invites you to quiet contemplation; please refrain from lighting candles. The oak cross, erected in 1834, commemorates the people from Holzhausen who died of the plague in 1611. The two dates refer to different points of remembrance: 1834 is the year the cross was erected, and 1611 is the year the people being remembered died. The Holy Sepulchre in St. George’s Church is also part of Großholzhausen’s church history; its tradition probably dates back to 1830.

These three points represent different forms of religious remembrance: the chapel recalls a vow as the reason for its construction, the cross commemorates the plague victims, and the Holy Sepulchre represents a distinct tradition at St. George’s. Anyone interested in local history can thus consider the reason for the chapel’s construction, the memorial, and the religious tradition separately.

The Way of St. James: Distinguishing the stage from the footpath

Stage 17 of the Way of St. James runs from Au bei Bad Aibling to the Inn Valley, is 45.9 kilometres long and is rated moderate. Großholzhausen lies along this stage. From the Baroque parish church of St. George, the footpath climbs uphill to Schwarzlack. The 45.9 kilometres refer to the entire stage; the climb to Schwarzlack is a separate point of orientation from St. George’s. Before setting out on a hike, check the current trail conditions, as they may change.

Moorland in the broader destination of Raubling

A distinct nature focus lies in the broader destination of Raubling. The Nicklheim Moor Station is designed as an environmental education centre for schools. The Nicklheim Moor Station nature trail first leads to a birdwatching station, then past the Green Classroom and a peat-cutter’s hut to a viewing platform overlooking the moor. The Nicklheim peat bogs are home to peat mosses, sundew, numerous dragonfly species and many rare bird species, especially during the migration season. Bird migration is therefore a useful seasonal reference point if you are particularly interested in birds; plants and dragonflies add to the nature experience as well.

Choose accommodation based on your travel focus

Start with Großholzhausen if the chapel, memorial cross and Way of St. James are what matter most to you; if the moorland is your main interest, include the broader destination of Raubling in your accommodation search. This way, you can shape your search around the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Kleinholzhausen.

View the broader travel overview: Raubling.