The branch church of St. John the Baptist and the burial mound cemetery at Aunhamer Spitz near Aunham give the village two points of cultural and historical interest. An official hiking route passes the church right at the beginning. This gives you architectural history, archaeological history and a specific hiking option to consider when planning your trip.

Church and Burial Mound Cemetery

The branch church of St. John the Baptist dates back to the mid-12th century. The present-day Late Gothic church dates from the late 15th century. The church also preserves a small bell that probably dates from the 14th century. The tower houses bells from the 14th and 15th centuries, which are among the oldest in the district of Rottal-Inn.

The church’s origins, its present-day structure and its bells point to different historical periods. A burial mound cemetery with at least 114 burials is also located at Aunhamer Spitz near Aunham. It is one of the largest in Lower Bavaria. The church and cemetery thus represent different aspects of the village’s history: sacred architectural history on the one hand, and archaeological heritage on the other.

Hiking and Views

The official hiking options around Bad Birnbach include three routes of different lengths. The 5-kilometre hike “06 a. Bad Birnbach – Hügelgräberrunde mit Bella Vista mit Abkürzung” is rated easy. The hike “06. Bad Birnbach – Hügelgräberrunde mit Bella Vista” is 6.3 kilometres long and rated moderate. Also rated moderate is the 11.6-kilometre route “07 a. Bad Birnbach – Große Birnbachrunde mit Bella Vista, Hügelgräber, Holzkapelle”.

The routes differ in both length and difficulty rating: the 5-kilometre option is easy, while the two longer routes are rated moderate. The hike with a shortcut passes the branch church in Aunham at the beginning, combining a hike with a specific cultural point of interest at the start of the route.

This hike offers views of the Rottauen wetlands. In favourable föhn conditions, the view extends as far as the Alps; this distant view therefore depends on a particular weather pattern. Check the route details and difficulty ratings again before setting out, as they may be revised.

More options in the wider destination of Bad Birnbach

In the wider destination of Bad Birnbach, the meditation trail begins at the Artrium. Its approximately 700-metre route passes through Bad Birnbach’s spa gardens. The stops along the way feature prompts for reflection and illustrations created especially for the trail by Thomas Richter. This short trail therefore differs in focus from the hiking options around Bad Birnbach, which are described by route length and difficulty.

The Artrium in Bad Birnbach hosts concerts ranging from classical music to rock ’n’ roll. Another cultural stop is the permanent historical exhibition “1200 Years of Bad Birnbach”: since 2013, it has been displayed in two rooms of the former monastery. The Bella Vista Golfpark in Bad Birnbach is a municipally operated golf course. These options are part of the wider destination of Bad Birnbach and should be distinguished from the sights and hiking route in Aunham.

Discover more destinations: Karpfham, Bad Griesbach-Therme.

Back to the destination overview: Bad Griesbach Im Rottal.