Discover Greifenberg

Greifenberg combines striking church art with a local history that dates back to the era of the former Hofmark estate. The circular hike begins and ends in Oberschondorf and passes through the Windach Valley and Greifenberg. The Schlosswiesen Bridge and its access routes lie within the NATURA 2000 “Windach” FFH area, a European protected area for nature and landscape. The bridge has been closed since mid-2021.

Chapels and Church Art in Greifenberg

The Herrgottsruh Chapel was built in 1695 by the Ziegler innkeeping family. Its altar features “Christ at Rest” as its central figure, flanked by Saints Sebastian and Wendelin. The altar’s crowning section also contains a half-figure of God the Father within a wreath of clouds. These motifs give the altar a clearly structured visual language: Christ is at the center, accompanied by the two flanking saints and the depiction of God the Father at the top.

A different architectural design characterizes the parish church of Maria Immaculata. A large honeycomb window forms a side aisle, at the end of which is the Marian Chapel. A separate baptistery was also added. Thus, the description focuses on several distinct chapel spaces alongside the side aisle. The church’s artistic furnishings include a triumphal cross by Professor Heinrich Kirchner, as well as works by sculptors Johannes Dumansky, Hans Kreuz and Erich Sinz. The triumphal cross is a specifically named work; the other names refer to additional sculptural works in the church.

Local History and Circular Hike

Greifenberg was one of several places in the former Hofmark estate on Lake Ammersee, which was administered from Greifenberg Castle. This historical connection adds an administrative perspective to the sacred buildings: alongside the date of the Herrgottsruh Chapel’s construction in 1695, it highlights Greifenberg’s former role within a larger territory.

A circular hike begins and ends in Oberschondorf. It leads up through the Windach Valley to Greifenberg and then along Karwendelstraße to the parish church of the Mother of God of the Immaculate Conception. Alongside the individual churches and their furnishings, there is also a described route that includes Greifenberg as a stop along the way. When planning, it is important to distinguish the actual starting and finishing point in Oberschondorf from the section that passes through Greifenberg.

The former warm-water baths are also part of the town’s more recent history: they reopened as a summer swimming pool in May 2022. This dated reopening complements the older historical landmarks and shows that the town’s history can be traced not only through its churches and the former Hofmark estate.

Landsberg Am Lech in the Regional Context

The wider destination of Landsberg Am Lech offers other distinct cultural and landscape attractions. Landsberg am Lech’s Bayertor has stood since 1425 and is considered one of Bavaria’s finest Gothic buildings. The Mutterturm is an exceptional monument to Historicism, commissioned by Herkomer in honor of his mother. The town museum presents local history and connects it with questions of the present; on the Leitenberg, it offers one of the finest views of the town. These examples complement Greifenberg’s churches with a separate perspective on the history of Landsberg am Lech.

Lake Ammersee is another distinct regional landmark: it lies entirely within the district of Landsberg am Lech and is Bavaria’s third-largest lake, after Lake Chiemsee and Lake Starnberg. Activities mentioned there include boat trips, water sports and lakeside promenades. The lake is a popular local recreation destination, offering sporting and cultural activities amid the natural surroundings of the Bavarian Alpine foothills. This makes it possible to distinguish Greifenberg’s specific local attractions from the separate offerings and sights in the wider destination of Landsberg Am Lech.

Discover more destinations: Weil, Hurlach, Egling An Der Paar, Kaufering, Hofstetten, Rott, Pürgen, Landsberg Am Lech.

Go to the main travel overview: Landsberg Am Lech.