Friedburg’s castle and church history, along with trails focused on different themes, offer practical starting points for planning your trip. You can get to know the town through its historical landmarks, choose a route with a named destination, or follow trails focused on nature and particular routes.
Friedburg Castle and Its History
The first written records of Friedburg date back to 1180. The bishops of Bamberg had Friedburg Castle built as a stronghold on the border between Bavaria and Austria. During the War of the Spanish Succession in 1703, Austrian troops bombarded and captured the castle. It was completely demolished between 1788 and 1790. The Friedburg castle site, the remains of the former castle complex, is protected as a historic monument by official decree. This makes it possible to place the castle’s construction, border function and subsequent demolition in their historical context. Friedburg’s earlier religious history also includes the original St Sebastian’s Chapel, built in 1649 during the plague. The rectory is considered a cultural monument.
The Parish Church of St Sebastian
The Catholic parish church of St Sebastian is protected as a historic monument by regulation. It was built at its current location as the second church and consecrated in 1869. Its furnishings include several much older pieces: the high altar, dating from 1770, was transferred to the newer church. The Nativity scene dates from 1780; its heads, hands and feet are carved. There are also 14 oil-painted Stations of the Cross with frames and Rococo ornaments. Even the smallest bell has a long history: it dates from 1475 and comes from the castle chapel. The altar, Nativity scene and bell thus connect different historical periods with the parish church.
Trails with Distinct Themes and Profiles
The Giant Hiking Trail is approximately 4 km long and runs from Lengau to the church in Friedburg. This is an approximate distance; as the exact signage may change, check the route before setting out. You can get a hiking map for the Schlossberg Trail from the Lengau municipal office.
The Bible Trail to the High Cross Chapel was created on Friedburg Castle Hill in 2008. The Legends Trail was established in 2009 and is based on the theme “Fratricide at Friedburg Castle.” The two trails have different focuses: the Bible Trail leads to the chapel, while the Legends Trail relates to Friedburg’s history.
The F3 route passes through a nature reserve, then follows forest roads and woodland trails through forest and natural landscapes. It returns to the starting point via Heiligenstatt. Thus, both the route through the protected area and the return via Heiligenstatt are part of the route description.
The Friedburg-Lengau Running and Walking Park offers eight different Nordic walking and running routes. The V1 and V2 connecting routes link the park’s route boards in Friedburg, Schneegattern and by the Naturfreundehaus. One specific route, the L2 Palfinger Loop, is rated as moderately difficult. It includes firm gravel and asphalt sections, heads towards a stream and continues to Teichstätt, passing roadside shrines and chapels.
The route profiles answer different planning questions: for the Giant Hiking Trail, the destination at the church in Friedburg and the approximate distance provide orientation; for the L2, the difficulty rating and surface are the main considerations. You can therefore choose according to whether a named destination or a described route profile matters more to you.
Discover more destinations: Tarsdorf, Pfaffstätt, Sankt Pantaleon, Lehrsberg, Mauerkirchen, Auerbach, Treubach, Höhnhart
For the main travel overview: Braunau Am Inn.
