Vierkirchen offers distinct reasons to visit: its nature pool, the Way of St. James and the Pasenbach traditions surrounding the Leonhardi Ride. When planning, the main things to consider are their different requirements: swimming facilities and access, trail markings, and the timing or advance arrangements for a visit.
Nature Pool: Season and Access
The Vierkirchen nature pool was created in 2003 and 2004 on the site of the former sewage treatment plant. You can swim in its soft, clear water and enjoy the local natural environment; water conditions are monitored regularly. The pool operates seasonally, and operating times may vary. It can be reached only on foot or by bicycle. Plan your route accordingly and check the latest access information before setting out.
Way of St. James and Trail Markings
A route via Ingolstadt, Pfaffenhofen, Scheyern, Jetzendorf, Vierkirchen and Mariabrunn to Dachau provides a better connection between the “Regensburg Way of St. James” and the “Munich Way of St. James.” In the Dachau region, the Way of St. James is marked throughout with the “yellow shell,” the route’s standard symbol used across Europe. Before setting out, it is worth checking the latest route information and trail conditions, as the signage may change. The connection between the two named pilgrimage routes and the consistent trail symbol are useful points of reference along this section.
Pasenbach: Exhibition Depot and Leonhardi Ride
The exhibition depot in the Pasenbach association and cultural hall displays the floats used in the Leonhardi Ride and several objects related to the veneration of the saint. Visits can be arranged by phone through the town hall. Since 1994, Pasenbach has held its traditional Leonhardi Ride with floats every year in late October. This offers two different ways to experience the same tradition: a depot visit arranged in advance or the annual event. Check the latest event dates before travelling.
More Nature and Culture in the Wider Dachau Destination
The wider Dachau destination offers more nature-related attractions. Karlsfelder See, covering 58.2 hectares, is located right next to the built-up area of northern Karlsfeld in the Dachau district. It is used year-round for walking, jogging, cycling and recreation—a different seasonal pattern from the swimming season in Vierkirchen. The wider Dachau destination is also crossed by the approximately 2.5-kilometre “Lebensader Maisach” trail, which follows the Maisach River. It is accessible to people with disabilities from Bergkirchen or Günding. The Amper floodplains in the wider Dachau destination offer another reason to observe nature: with patience and a little luck, a walk may reveal the extraordinary feeding marks of the beaver, which has returned to live in the area.
Cultural attractions are also found throughout the wider Dachau destination. On Petersberg near Erdweg stands a Romanesque basilica built in 1104 and preserved to this day. An eight-stop sculpture trail, featuring a total of ten artworks, leads through Petersberg Forest. In AltomĂĽnster, the permanent exhibition at the Museum AltomĂĽnster presents the history of the Order of Saint Birgitta in Europe and its founder, Saint Birgitta of Sweden, including through the example of the now-closed AltomĂĽnster monastery, which had existed for 500 years. The attractions each offer a different focus: architectural history on Petersberg, art in the forest and the history of a European religious order in AltomĂĽnster.
Discover more destinations: Hebertshausen, Odelzhausen, Schwabhausen, Bergkirchen, Markt Indersdorf, Röhrmoos, Haimhausen, Weißling
Back to the wider travel overview: Dachau.
