Benediktbeuern combines monastic culture with trails through moorland landscapes and along waterways. Options range from a roughly half-hour loop around the monastery to hikes that take several hours. There are also trails that introduce visitors to nature or history at various stops.
Monastery and Culture
The meditation garden is on the west side of the Maierhof. Its layout is based on the ground labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral. The Benediktbeuern Monastery is also home to the Documentation Center of the Bavarian Mountain Riflemen. It presents more than 500 years of Bavarian history, tradition and customs. The two places have different focuses: the garden draws on a design concept from Chartres, while the center is dedicated to Bavarian cultural history. Check the center operator for current visitor information.
Walks around the Monastery and through the Moor
The “Around the monastery” walk is about 2 km long and takes around 30 minutes. It follows a level path around the monastery, including along Spatzenpointweg on the eastern side of the monastery and through the biotopes. This makes it the shortest route described here. For a longer walk, Moosrundweg 2 covers about 6 km and takes around an hour and a half. It starts at the monastery car park, heads toward the moor past the biotopes, and returns to the starting point along the monastery wall. This path is also level, but offers little shade.
Moosrundweg 1 extends the tour to about 10 km and takes around two and a half to three hours. From the monastery car park, it leads through the moor and along the Loisach, then returns to the monastery via Lainbach Bridge. The path is level and offers little shade. A section along the Loisach River is used at your own risk. Compared with the shorter loops, both the longer walking time and this specific warning about the route should be taken into account.
For a hike lasting several hours, the Benediktbeuern–Kochel route is described as about 16 km and taking around four to four and a half hours. There are some small climbs and shaded sections at the beginning; later, the route offers little shade. The changes between shaded and mostly unshaded sections set this hike apart from the level loops around the monastery. Check current route conditions before setting out.
Nature and Themed Trails
The Benediktusweg passes through the natural surroundings of the monastery complex. Twelve stations offer reflections inspired by the Rule of Benedict; Station 12 is currently inaccessible. The Benediktbeuern audio trail is an audio guide with eleven stations and stories about the village. Topics include Mariabrunn, Fraunhofer and the secret passage beneath the basilica. Check in advance whether the audio is currently available.
Along the Historic Mill Trail, 17 stations trace aspects of life by and with the MĂĽhlbach stream. The barefoot trail in the Erlebnisbiotope area, a few hundred metres west of the monastery, focuses on experiencing different surfaces: the roughly 400 m circular path passes over various types of rock, forest and moorland soils, and mud. Topics include geology, soil types, vegetation and the use of natural materials. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
The Woodland Trail runs for 2.5 km through easy terrain and a moorland landscape with far-reaching views. More than 30 stations explore native trees and shrubs. Wooden puzzles, a magnifying-glass station, and hedge and animal detective activities complement the information. Its focus therefore differs from that of the Mill Trail stations: here, the emphasis is on trees and shrubs and nature-related activities.
The Wildbachlehrpfad along the Lainbach leads from Mariabrunn alongside the Lainbach to the unstaffed Söldner Alm. The one-way route is about 4 km. Ten information panels cover the geology of the Lainbach Valley, mountain streams and their channelization, as well as adapted plants and small animals. Bear the one-way distance and destination in mind when planning.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Bichl, Greiling, Reichersbeuern, Wolfratshausen, Jachenau, Geretsried, GaiĂźach, Eurasburg
Back to the main travel overview: Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.
