Thyrnau: Monastery, Churches and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Thyrnau
Thyrnau combines a distinctive monastic history with churches, a viewpoint and several long-distance trails. When planning a stay, it helps to consider these different highlights: the Donausteig, the Way of St. James and the Goldsteig each offer different trail routes, while the monastery and churches provide their own points of interest for culture lovers. In Kellberg, St. Blaise’s Church and Max-Höhe are additional named places to visit.
Hiking Trails with Different Routes
The 450-kilometre Donausteig opened in July 2010 and runs from Passau via Linz to Grein; it also passes through the municipality of Thyrnau. The 25-kilometre stage of the Way of St. James connects Untergriesbach with Passau, passing through Thyrnau and by the Church of St. Christopher. The Goldsteig premium trail comes from the direction of Hauzenberg and runs from the Staffelbachtal through KaindlmĂĽhle and the Erlautal, crossing the municipality of Thyrnau on its way to Passau. The distances indicate different scales: 25 kilometres for the stage and 450 kilometres for the Donausteig.
Monastic History and Churches
The castle built on the site of today’s monastery in Thyrnau once served as a hunting lodge. After it was sold to Cistercian nuns from Veceline in France, it was converted into a monastery in 1902. Today, the Cistercian nuns run a parament embroidery workshop there, known beyond the region’s borders for its ecclesiastical textiles. The building’s changing uses and the textile craft practised there today are thus both part of the monastery’s history.
The parish church of St. Francis Xavier in Thyrnau was originally a pilgrimage church; its architecture and furnishings date from the Rococo period. Before 1597, the Church of St. Christopher in Thyrnau was a place of pilgrimage, and it lies along the Way of St. James stage from Untergriesbach to Passau. Here, the pilgrimage connection is linked to a specific route.
In Kellberg, the present-day nave of the parish church of St. Blaise was completed around 1450. The church contains tombs and memorials to Degenhard II von Watzmannsdorf (d. 1506), Margarete Tengler, née von Steinach, and Julis Benedikt Freiherr von Schätzl (d. 1598). They represent other historically significant people who were buried there.
Panoramic Views and Getting Your Bearings in Kellberg
From Max-Höhe in Kellberg, the panoramic view extends across the Bavarian Forest, the Bohemian Forest, the Sauwald and the Neubürger Wald. On a clear day, the Dachstein and the Berchtesgaden Alps are also visible. You can also count 36 church towers from there. The viewpoint therefore offers both expansive views of the landscape and a distinctive perspective on the church towers.
The Thyrnau-Kellberg Tourist Information Office is located at St.-Blasius-StraĂźe 10 in Kellberg, 94136 Thyrnau. If you plan to visit in person, check the current opening hours in advance.
Discover more destinations: Kellberg, Windorf, Neukirchen Vorm Wald, Wegscheid, Aicha Vorm Wald, Ortenburg, Bad FĂĽssing, Bad Griesbach Im Rottal.
Return to the overview of the wider region: Passau.
