The Ruhstorf Church Hiking Trail leads to churches and viewpoints; several cycling routes also pass through the municipality. Yellow signposts with a church symbol and colored dots mark the respective hiking routes. The architectural history of Ruhstorf and Rotthof, the outdoor swimming pool and regional products add to the range of things to explore during a stay.
On foot: the Ruhstorf Church Hiking Trail
The hiking trail starts at Ruhstorf Town Hall; parking is located directly behind the town hall building. Along the way, there are views of the Rott and Inn valleys, and in clear conditions, of the Alps as well. The route includes four climbs to the respective churches and viewpoints. As a result, some sections are unsuitable for strollers—a key consideration when planning if you are traveling with a stroller.
Signposts with a church symbol and colored dots mark the respective routes. Together with the starting point at the town hall, they provide clear guidance for the hike, without specifying a walking time or route length. The views are also subject to a condition: the Alps can be seen when visibility is good.
Cycling routes and connections
The Roman Cycle Route, the SaurĂĽssel Cycle Route and the Rottal Cycle Route pass through the municipality of the market town of Ruhstorf a.d.Rott. The Rottal and Roman Cycle Routes connect to the Danube Cycle Route and the Inn Cycle Route. This offers a different focus for planning your trip than the Church Hiking Trail: cyclists can explore the routes passing through Ruhstorf and the connections mentioned, while the hike centers on churches and viewpoints.
For the SaurĂĽssel Cycle Route, the regional information for its route through Passauer Land applies: the route covers 126.6 kilometers and 1,316 meters of elevation gain and is considered family-friendly there. These figures describe the route in the wider region, not just the section within the municipality of Ruhstorf.
Churches from Baroque to modern times
In the town center, the Marienkirche stands in an idyllic setting by Kleeberger Bach. It was built from 1772 to 1776. The modern parish church “Christus der König” represents a much later construction period: Würzburg cathedral architect Schedl built it from 1959 to 1962. The two churches thus represent different periods in Ruhstorf’s architectural history.
The Siebenschläferkirche is located in Rotthof, within the municipality. Its Baroque high altar was transformed into a grotto illusion using crates, tuff stone and shells; it depicts the seven youths of Balthasar Modler. Its patronage also has a distinctive history: two Roman gravestones set into the outer wall show three and four people, respectively. In the Baroque period, the figures were mistakenly interpreted as the Seven Sleepers. The Seven Sleepers are regarded as witnesses to the Resurrection in both Christian and Islamic traditions.
Outdoor swimming pool, regional products and crafts
Ruhstorf outdoor swimming pool has a 50-meter swimming pool with 3-meter and 1-meter diving boards. There is also a heated leisure pool with a wide children’s slide; both the swimming pool and the leisure pool are heated. The pools and diving boards offer a different focus from the municipality’s trails and churches.
The “Kleeberger Kistl” offers regional products from the Rott and Inn valleys from around 20 local direct-marketing businesses. These include sausage, cheese, honey, smoked products, potatoes, eggs, flour, pasta and cooking oils. The specific selection of products may vary. Local crafts include Doris Deml’s Kleine Seifensiederei, which makes handmade soaps, natural cosmetics and body oils in Ruhstorf; this product range may also change.
In the wider Passau destination
In the wider Passau destination, the Bavarian Forest Open-Air Museum is located in Tittling. Visitors can explore more than 100 residential and farm buildings from the Bavarian Forest dating from 1580 to 1890 across 20 hectares; the museum is one of Europe’s largest open-air museums. The site includes farmsteads, mills, sawmills, smithies, chapels and field monuments. Germany’s oldest elementary school, dating from 1666, is also part of the museum.
Discover more destinations: Thyrnau, Bad Griesbach Im Rottal, Hauzenberg, Eging Am See, Salzweg, Vilshofen An Der Donau, Kirchham, RotthalmĂĽnster.
Back to the wider travel overview: Passau.
