Hartkirchen: St. Peter’s Parish Church, Gallus Market and Quarry Pond

St. Peter’s Parish Church, the traditional Gallus Market in autumn and the Hartkirchen quarry pond represent different aspects of the town.

Gothic architecture at St. Peter’s Parish Church

St. Peter’s Parish Church retains its Gothic character. The present church building was constructed in the 15th century in the Braunau Late Gothic style; the year 1474 is inscribed above the south portal. This links the period of construction with a specific date at the portal.

Surviving features include Late Gothic side chapels and frescoes dating from the construction period. The paintings depict St. Peter and the Madonna of Mercy. When considering them, it is worth distinguishing between architecture and visual art: the side chapels are architectural features, while the frescoes preserve two religious subjects.

The Gallus Market in autumn

The traditional Gallus Market takes place in Hartkirchen every autumn, continuing the town’s historic market tradition. It is therefore a recurring seasonal occasion, while the parish church is defined by its architectural history and preserved furnishings. If you would like to plan your trip around the market, check the exact event date before arranging your hotel stay.

Facilities at Hartkirchen quarry pond

Hartkirchen quarry pond has sanitary facilities, changing facilities and a kiosk. The availability of these facilities may change. If they are important for your stay, check in advance whether they will be available during your visit.

More to explore in the wider destination of Pocking

In the wider destination of Pocking stands the bronze statue “Rolling Mare,” the city’s unofficial landmark. Another cultural attraction is the permanent archaeological exhibition “Drehscheibe Pocking.” It opened in February 2007 and is located in a roughly 75 m² adjoining room of the Pocking municipal library.

The exhibition presents traces of the Celts, Romans and Bavarians who have walked the Pocking Heath over the past three millennia. It also features finds from several excavations following the discovery of a Roman settlement in 1951. The exhibition thus brings together a broad historical period and specific archaeological finds. The two references to time describe different aspects: traces of peoples on the heath and excavations carried out after the settlement was discovered.

Pocking is also home to an exercise trail for all generations at the quarry pond in Schlupfing Landscape Park. The bathing lake at the Roman Tower on Füssinger Straße is also in the wider destination. Its sunbathing lawn covers 22,000 m², and its water surface is about 30 ha. These figures refer to two different areas of the bathing lake.

The Roman Tower is an observation tower about 20 metres high. From its platform, the panoramic view extends across the Rottal; in foehn conditions, it reaches as far as the Alps. The view therefore combines a panorama across the Rottal with a long-distance vista to the Alps that is explicitly weather-dependent.

For the wider travel guide: Pocking.