Discover Baar (Schwaben)

When planning a stay in Baar (Schwaben), it is worth distinguishing between events in the immediate area and the cultural and trail offerings in the Aichach-Friedberg district. The Maria im Elend pilgrimage chapel hosts recurring religious events; across the wider travel region, there is also brewing history, museums, architecture, and cycling and hiking trails.

Maria im Elend: Events at Different Times of Year

Near Baar, the Forest Christmas is held every year on a Sunday in winter at the Maria im Elend pilgrimage chapel. The Swabian Musicians from Gersthofen traditionally provide the musical accompaniment. The Forest Christmas is therefore a seasonal reference point for travel planning, although no specific calendar date is set.

Smaller pilgrimages are also held at the chapel from time to time. A separate annual event is the festive service at the end of May, celebrated there by veterans’ and soldiers’ associations. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between three different timing patterns: the Forest Christmas on a Sunday in winter, the service at the end of May, and the smaller pilgrimages held from time to time. If you would like to travel specifically for one of these events, check your plans against the latest dates.

Brewing History in the Aichach-Friedberg Travel Region

Brewing history is also part of the wider Aichach-Friedberg travel region. Schlossbrauerei Unterbaar is one of the local breweries in Wittelsbacher Land and is among Bavaria’s oldest privately owned breweries. This adds a distinct regional connection alongside the religious events at Maria im Elend. If you would also like to consider regional history when choosing where to stay, this offers a different thematic perspective from the events at the pilgrimage chapel.

Distinguishing Between Hiking and Cycling Trails

The Aichach-Friedberg district’s cycling map features 14 well-marked themed cycle routes. For walks and hikes, the brochure “Explore Aichach on Foot – The Most Beautiful Walks Around Aichach” presents 15 routes in and around Aichach. Another clearly defined option is the Paartal hiking trail: it follows the middle reaches of the Paar River from Aichach to Gut Schenkenau in the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district and is 36.8 km long in total.

The information can be grouped by mode of travel and route length: the 14 themed cycle routes are part of the district’s cycling offer, while the 15 routes are listed in the hiking brochure about the area around Aichach; 36.8 km is the total length of the Paartal hiking trail. This allows you to choose between cycling routes, a selection of walks and hiking trails described as shorter routes, and a single hiking route with a stated total length. Check the conditions on the relevant trails before setting out.

Culture and History in the Aichach-Friedberg Travel Region

Aichach’s historic old town has changed little over the centuries. The Wittelsbach Museum is housed in the Unteres Tor (Lower Gate), while the town museum vividly tells the story of Aichach. Oberwittelsbach is also connected with the history of the Wittelsbach dynasty: their ancestral castle stood in this district of Aichach. Sisi Castle in Unterwittelsbach served Duke Max in Bavaria as a hunting lodge. These connections represent different aspects of Aichach’s history, from the former ancestral seat to the historical use of a castle.

In Friedberg, architectural landmarks range from medieval castle building to Bavarian Rococo. Wittelsbach Castle originated as a High Medieval fortress built around 1257 under Duke Ludwig II the Strict. The pilgrimage church of Herrgottsruh in Friedberg was built from 1731 to 1753 and is considered one of the finest examples of Bavarian Rococo. The two buildings thus represent different periods and architectural themes.

Inchenhofen is another religious focal point in the travel region. The Pilgrimage Museum is located in Haus St. Leonhard, a former brewery building belonging to the Cistercians. It displays iron and wax votive offerings, ploughshares, horseshoes, and neck and hand shackles. The museum also documents the significance of Saint Leonhard and St. Leonhard’s Church as a much-visited pilgrimage destination. The exhibits range from votive offerings to agricultural objects and shackles; alongside the events at Maria im Elend, the theme of pilgrimage is also evident across the wider travel region.

Discover More Destinations

Schiltberg, Affing, Aindling, Petersdorf, Steindorf, Ried, Merching, Dasing

For the overview of the wider travel region: Aichach-Friedberg.