In Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, trails, urban history and local traditions reveal different sides of the region. In Wolfratshausen, you’ll encounter traces of rafting and a long history as a town; in Bad Tölz, the annual Leonhardi procession. Near Benediktbeuern Abbey, a meditative themed trail introduces the teachings of Saint Benedict. Urban history, religious themes and craftsmanship thus offer different perspectives side by side.
Urban History and Monastery Culture
A walking tour of Wolfratshausen’s historic town centre brings the thousand-year history of the town and its residents to life. Historic buildings along the route include the parish church of St. Andrew, built in 1484, the Humpelbräu brewery and the craftsman’s houses. The Wolfratshausen Museum offers a different perspective: small and large objects donated by residents provide a cross-section of domestic culture, arts and crafts, trades, commerce and contemporary history. While the walking tour focuses on the town and its buildings, the museum tells its story through objects.
More recent regional history has its own place, too: the BADEHAUS Memorial Site in the Waldram district of Wolfratshausen focuses on the region’s contemporary history. An audio guide leads visitors through the permanent exhibition or on a historical tour of the district. The meditative Benedictus Trail runs near Benediktbeuern Abbey, through the Loisach-Kochelsee Moor. Its twelve stops introduce the teachings of Saint Benedict; QR codes and audio files explore the themes in greater depth. If you’d like to explore these trails with a guide, you can book a guided monastery trail tour. The pilgrimage days are led by trained, experienced pilgrimage guides from the Catholic Adult Education Centre of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen. Check the dates and booking conditions in advance.
On Foot and by Bike
The Tölzer Land Health Climate Park comprises 37 routes on a network of more than 340 kilometres between Bad Heilbrunn, Bad Tölz, Kochel am See, Wackersberg and Lenggries. The hiking options also include six signposted Nordic walking routes ranging from two to 8.6 kilometres. If you have a specific route in mind, it’s worth checking the route details again before planning.
A shorter walk with clearly marked stops is the Loisach Trail in Wolfratshausen: this easy 3.34-kilometre route follows the Loisach past traces of rafting, the Kastenmühl weir and the raft landing. The stated walking time is 49 minutes. The MeinBankerl Trail starts in the old town, in front of the Loisachhalle, and runs for about six kilometres past well-known filming locations from the series “Hubert und/ohne Staller”; there is also a shorter alternative route of about four kilometres. The two trails have different focuses: one highlights rafting history and riverside locations, while the other takes in filming locations and offers a choice of two approximate distances.
Nature is also a prominent theme along the trails. With 19 stops, the Mountain Forest Discovery Trail explains the importance of the forest ecosystem and invites visitors to experience the forest with all their senses. At Blomberg, the Discovery Trail combines hands-on and puzzle-solving activities, wooden telescopes offering views of environmental features, and stories for children. The trail is accessible from spring through autumn. The Pupplinger Au nature reserve lies just north of Wolfratshausen. At the confluence of the Loisach and Isar, extensive gravel banks and wild, natural alluvial forest define the area.
A road cycling route runs from Wolfratshausen via Bad Heilbrunn, Lake Kochel and the Kesselberg to Lake Walchen, then returns to Wolfratshausen via Bad Tölz. Road and access conditions may change; check them before setting out.
The Leonhardi Procession and Rafting
The Leonhardi procession in Bad Tölz is considered the largest of its kind in Upper Bavaria and one of the most beautiful horse pilgrimages in Germany. It attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year. The procession follows a set order along Marktstraße up to Kalvarienberg and the Leonhardi Chapel. A church service and blessing of participants take place there; afterwards, the procession circles the Leonhardi Chapel, built in 1718, twice before returning to Marktstraße. As the schedule may vary from year to year, check the current dates and event details before visiting.
There are various ways to discover rafting in Wolfratshausen. The Rafting Audio Trail explores the old craft through audio and video files; check in advance whether the digital media are available. Raft trips from Wolfratshausen to Munich are a tourist attraction for visitors from across Europe. If you’re planning a trip, check availability and booking details separately. In Königsdorf, the Isartal Observatory turns its sights to stars and planets; its telescope is said to be the largest in the Oberland.
Getting There and Getting Around
The X970 express bus connects Bad Tölz, the Isar Valley, Geretsried, Wolfratshausen and Starnberg, with stops at various points of interest. Blomberg can be reached by hourly Bayerische Oberlandbahn trains from Munich Central Station, as well as by bus routes 9612 and 9591 from Bad Tölz station to the “Blombergbahn” stop. Check current connections and timetables before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Benediktbeuern, Lenggries, Schlehdorf, Münsing, Kochel am See, Egling, Bad Tölz, Bad Heilbrunn, Icking, Geretsried, Jachenau, Eurasburg, Wolfratshausen, Dietramszell, Gaißach, Wackersberg, Sankt Heinrich, Bichl, Greiling, Königsdorf, Reichersbeuern, Sachsenkam.
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