Hardly anywhere else can you find so many spiritual places: whether pilgrimage churches, monasteries, chapels or wayside shrines - there is always a church steeple peeking out somewhere.
It is important to invest energy in this 101 kilometer long pilgrimage loop, for which you should take two days. But what we give on this route comes back twice as much. Places of power like the Wieskirche and Ettal Monastery, the freshness of the Ammer and Loisach rivers, the overwhelming mountains that line the entire route: every kilometer here gives pure life energy.
We pass tourist highlights of the Pfaffenwinkel and the Ammergau Alps Nature Park - and yet we are mostly on quiet paths. As close as we come to impressive mountain ranges, there is no massive climb to be overcome on the counterclockwise loop. A total of 870 meters of altitude are spread over many varied sections with lively ups and downs.
Good to know
Directions
From Murnau to the Wieskirche
After crossing from Murnau with the Staffelsee boat trip (of course also possible as a crowning tour finale), a parade panorama awaits you from Uffing: with a magnificent view of the Alpine chain, Harberger Straße, nestled on the slope, leads enjoyably into the quiet land between Staffelseemoor and Ammerschlucht. The hilly, dreamy route teaches us not to struggle doggedly up climbs, but rather to surrender to the constant change that can become a flow. With several Kneipp pools and meditation path stations, Bad Bayersoien invites you to an inspiring stop before you head over the spectacular Echelsbacher Bridge towards the World Heritage Site: How uplifting it is when the Wieskirche almost unexpectedly emerges from the lovely forest and pasture landscape! By the way, this tour can be perfectly combined with other (long-distance) cycle paths.
From the Wieskirche to Oberammergau
Still inspired by the rococo splendor and spiritual power of the Wies, the following route into the Ammergau Alps demands some pilgrimage qualities from us. The royal road climbs gently but steadily and gravelly in places through forests and meadows, only to soon make the effort worthwhile with a long, easy downhill. The wildly romantic Halbammer near Unternogg is too beautiful to just cross quickly: you can take an idyllic rest on its pebbles, reflect on your previous impressions - and feel the flow of life. We now follow the Ammer-Amper cycle path to Oberammergau: in the middle of imposing mountains, it leads relaxed and straight through the Ammertal to the world-famous place of passion.
From Oberammergau to Eschenlohe
As lively as Oberammergau appears to be, the route is immediately peaceful again when we treat ourselves to a long loop into the Graswangtal before the next prominent destination. A detour to the Linderhof Royal Castle would be possible here, but our route takes a sharp turn into the green headwaters of the Ammer - where life seemingly comes into flow out of nowhere. Via the Ettaler Mühle with its famous beer garden we go to the Ettal Monastery, whose basilica in the dome fresco brings heaven to earth. The infamous Ettaler Berg, on which it is difficult to go downhill, is not passable, but rather a “sliding route”. In Oberau, this is compensated by the suddenly opening view of the imposing Ester Mountains and the second river that characterizes our tour: the emerald-green Loisach takes us off the busy road in brisk curves to Eschenlohe.
From Eschenlohe to Murnau
At Eschenlohe the country opens up again into a soothing expanse, which brings a relaxing wellness program for body and soul to the end of a tour full of highlights. It goes in a wide arc through the Murnauer Moos, which is the habitat of many protected animal and plant species: a huge green lung in front of a fantastic backdrop, an invitation to breathe deeply in and out - ideal for leaving the last bit of everyday life far behind you. The last ten kilometers from Grafenaschau are pure cycling bliss: a narrow, easily passable path winds along the Lindenbach through the Moos to Murnau. On the left the babbling stream, on the right colorful meadows, in front of us the home garden, all around chirping and chirping, and above all a lot of sky... What power lies in all of this!
Facilities
- Roadworthy bike
- Bicycle helmet
- Day cycling backpack (approx. 20 liters) with rain cover
- comfortable sports shoes, possibly cycling shoes
- Weather-adapted and durable multi-layer clothing, if necessary cycling jersey, if necessary cycling gloves
- Air pump, bicycle tool
- Sun and rain protection
- Provisions and drinking water as well as garbage bags to take the garbage home with you
- First aid kit
- Mobile phone, if necessary mobile phone holder for the handlebars
- If necessary, headlamp and reflectors
- Maps
Author's tip
The “Cycling Pilgrims” themed route consists of several daily stages that can easily be combined into a multi-day tour.
Public transportation
By train to Murnau train station.
author
Laura Feuerecker
Organization
