St. Leonhard Pilgrimage Church stands at the highest point of a hill in Wonneberg. Together with two hiking trails and a cycling route, it adds a cultural highlight to a municipality whose landscape is shaped by forests and raised bogs. This offers different ways to plan a stay: historic church art, hikes along clearly named routes, or a longer cycling route.
St. Leonhard: Late Gothic architecture and a Baroque tower
The present-day Late Gothic pilgrimage church was built in 1496 under Salzburg Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach and Waging parish priest Georg Stroppel. The wall and ceiling paintings date from 1631/1633 and are regarded as art-historically valuable examples of the Early Baroque. Four Late Gothic wing panels by Gordian Guckh, dating from around 1513, are incorporated into the high altar. The church thus brings together several periods, evident in its architecture, paintings, and altar.
A prominent 52-meter-high Baroque onion dome with four bells defines the church’s silhouette. In the nave, a display case on the north wall contains preserved votive offerings, including horseshoes, stirrups, spurs, and human figures. Mr. Parzinger and Mr. Reinmiedl are the contacts for church tours.
The Wonneberg Leonhardiritt is also part of local cultural life: the Leonhardi Association of Wonneberg has continued the tradition since 1973. Together with the pilgrimage church, it offers a distinctive way to experience St. Leonhard, whether a visit is planned primarily around art history or outdoor activities.
Compare hiking trails and cycling route
The St. Leonhard Circular Trail 6 is 5.7 kilometers long, runs at an elevation of 589 to 465 meters above sea level, and starts at the church. For the Wonneberg Circular Trail 5, the route markers start in Köpfelsberg. This trail is 5.6 kilometers long and runs at an elevation of 588 to 559 meters above sea level. Before returning, the circular trail recommends a visit to St. Leonhard Pilgrimage Church.
The two hiking routes are almost the same length. Their stated starting points are the main difference for navigation: Circular Trail 6 starts at the church, while the markers for Circular Trail 5 start in Köpfelsberg. The elevation range is 589 to 465 meters on the first trail and 588 to 559 meters on the second.
For cycling, the 55-kilometer “Chiemsee – Waginger See” cycle route passes through St. Leonhard. Its total length makes for a different kind of route than the two hiking trails. Depending on the type of activity planned, visitors to Wonneberg can choose between the hiking routes, which are about 5.6 to 5.7 kilometers long, and the longer cycle route.
Forests, moors, and glacial ridges
Forests cover about one third of the area of the municipality of Wonneberg. Together with its numerous raised bogs, they give the landscape its distinctive character. The Salzach Glacier formed and left behind the Wonneberg ridges along the southern edge of the Waging Basin. North of Reichwimm, the ridges reach their highest point at 629 meters. The figures for forests and moors describe the landscape today, while glacial formation explains the origin of the ridges.
Getting to Wonneberg
Direct connections by regional train and RVO bus run from Traunstein railway station to Weibhausen in the municipality of Wonneberg. Check the departures for your travel date. By car, take the Traunstein/Siegsdorf exit on the A8 at kilometer 98.5, then travel via Traunstein toward Waging am See to Weibhausen. Turn off there; after a few kilometers, you will reach the center of the municipality of Wonneberg, the main village of St. Leonhard.
Discover more destinations: Taching Am See.
Return to the main travel overview: Waging Am See.
