The venerable pilgrimage church “Zu unserer lieben Frau in Feichten” gives Feichten a.d.Alz a distinct cultural and historical focus. Construction began on 4 April 1502. Originally, the church was a Gothic, three-aisled hall church; many indulgences were granted to finance it. The start of construction, architectural style and financing offer various points of reference for placing the history of the church’s construction in context.
Church History and the Madonna
On 27 April 1518, Bishop Berthold of Chiemsee consecrated the pilgrimage church, with its six altars and cemetery. The Madonna of Feichten provides an earlier point of reference: the highly valuable cast-stone Madonna in the so-called “Soft Style” dates from around 1400 and still stands at the pilgrimage altar today. This makes it possible to distinguish the Madonna’s date from the church’s construction and consecration: the statue is dated to around 1400, while construction began and the church was consecrated in the 16th century.
This gives you more than a single historical reference point to consider when planning your trip. The pilgrimage church combines a specific construction history with the Madonna at the pilgrimage altar. If you are interested in religious history and art, the differing dates offer a closer look at the town’s cultural heritage.
Bundwerk Barn Culture and Hiking
Another cultural highlight is Bundwerk barn culture: with its three showcase examples, Feichten a.d.Alz is considered the “centre of Bundwerk barn culture.” Alongside the pilgrimage church, this description points to a second local theme, broadening the reasons to choose the town beyond its church history. This gives you two distinct cultural focal points to consider: pilgrimage and Bundwerk barn culture.
Hiking is another option that may make Feichten an appealing choice for a trip. From Feichten, you can set out on hikes in three different directions. If you would like to include some exercise as well as culture, this choice of directions is another factor to consider; it complements the local attractions without requiring you to focus your entire stay on the church.
A Broader View: the Overarching Destination of Altötting
In the wider destination of Altötting, the district of Altötting lies along the Inn and Salzach rivers. Its landscape is defined by a plain around 10 kilometres wide, through which the Inn flows. Lush green hills border the plain to the north and south. This description refers to the regional setting of Altötting, not to the local features of Feichten a.d.Alz.
Together with the district of Mühldorf, the district of Altötting is part of the Inn-Salzach tourism region. Visitor information for the region includes, among other things, cycling and pilgrimage routes, museums and bathing lakes. The wider destination therefore offers themes ranging from culture and pilgrimage routes to activities by the water; which of these appeal to you can help shape your plans.
For cycling enthusiasts, one popular variant of the Inn Cycle Path is described: it runs from Neuötting through Altötting and the extensive Öttinger Forest to the ducal town of Burghausen, then past the confluence of the Inn and Salzach rivers to Marktl. The route through the Inn-Salzach region is just over 75 kilometres long. As detours may be in place, it is advisable to check the current route before setting out on a specific cycling tour.
Another natural attraction in the wider destination is the internationally significant wetland and nature reserve “Lower Inn between Haiming and Neuhaus.” It provides a habitat for migrating, overwintering and breeding marsh and water birds. More than 25 different bird species that depend on water and wetlands breed there. These details also make the region worth considering for travellers who want to include nature alongside culture and cycling in their plans.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Marktl, Burgkirchen an der Alz, Reischach, Haiming, Winhöring, Pleiskirchen, Töging am Inn, Altötting.
To the broader travel overview: Altötting.
