Discover Friedburg

Friedburg combines a rich history of castles and churches with a variety of trails. To help you find your way, you can focus on two questions: Which historical traces shape the town, and which of the described routes best matches your interest in nature, exercise, or a particular theme?

Castle and Local History

The first documented records of Friedburg date back to 1180. The bishops of Bamberg had Friedburg Castle built as a stronghold on the border between Bavaria and Austria. During the War of the Spanish Succession in 1703, Austrian troops shelled and captured the castle. It was completely demolished between 1788 and 1790. The Friedburg castle site is protected as a historic monument by official decree as the former site of a castle. The castle’s history and the protected castle site should therefore be clearly distinguished: the castle was demolished, while the former site is protected.

Parish Church and Historic Furnishings

The parish church of St. Sebastian was built as the second church at its present location and consecrated in 1869. Its high altar dates from 1770 and was transferred to the newer church. The altar was therefore created 99 years before the later church building was consecrated. The furnishings also reflect different periods: the church has 14 Stations of the Cross painted in oil, with frames and Rococo ornamentation, as well as a nativity scene from 1780 with carved heads, hands, and feet. The smallest bell dates from 1475 and comes from the castle chapel.

Friedburg’s religious history also includes the original Sebastiani Chapel, built in 1649 during the plague. The rectory is also considered a cultural monument. Together, these places and furnishings offer various clues to the history of the buildings and the town: from the former castle site to the chapel and the later-consecrated parish church. Those particularly interested in history will find several distinct topics to explore, rather than just one historical landmark.

Trails with Different Themes

The Riesenwanderweg (Giant’s Trail) is approximately four kilometres long and runs from Lengau to the church in Friedburg. There are also themed trails on Schlossberg: the Bible Trail to the Hohe Kreuz Chapel was established in 2008. The Legends Trail, created in 2009, takes “Brotherly Murder at Friedburg Castle” as its theme. A hiking map for the Schlossberg Trail is available from the Lengau municipal office. The approximate length of the Riesenwanderweg and the different themes of the Schlossberg trails offer various points of reference for planning.

The F3 route passes through a nature reserve and then follows forestry and woodland paths through forest and natural landscapes. It returns to the starting point via Heiligenstatt. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.

The Friedburg-Lengau Running and Walking Park comprises eight different Nordic walking and running routes. Connecting routes V1 and V2 link the park’s route boards in Friedburg, Schneegattern, and at the Naturfreundehaus. The L2 Palfinger Loop offers more specific information about difficulty and surface: it is rated moderate and follows firm gravel and asphalt sections. The route heads towards a stream and continues to Teichstätt, passing wayside shrines and chapels. If a stated difficulty rating or the surface is important to your choice, the L2 description provides more specific guidance than the general information about the eight routes.

Discover more destinations: Burgkirchen, Schwand Im Innkreis, Aufhausen, Sankt Johann am Walde, Schalchen, Mauerkirchen, Sankt Veit Im Innkreis, Hochburg.

For the broader travel overview: Braunau Am Inn.