Mettenheim can be understood through the course of the Isen, its churches and several cycling routes. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the routes’ respective geographical roles: the Isentalweg runs through the municipality, while two other routes touch it only at its southernmost edge.
Isen, Landscape and Cycling Routes
The Isen crosses the municipality of Mettenheim from west to east. The southern part belongs to the “Lower Inn Valley” natural region. The river’s course and the name of the landscape therefore offer different points of reference for orientation: the Isen traces a line through the municipality, while the natural region identifies its southern part.
The Isentalweg cycling route runs through the municipality. The Inn Cycle Route and the Benediktweg, by contrast, touch only its southernmost edge. If you are comparing cycling routes for your travel plans, this distinction is useful: one route passes through Mettenheim, while the other two touch the municipality only along its southern edge.
Churches and Architectural History
The Catholic parish church of St. Michael in Mettenheim is a substantial Baroque new building. The Catholic Church of St. Rupert offers a different architectural reference: it is a hall church with a recessed polygonal choir and a west tower dating from the second half of the 15th century. The two churches therefore differ both in their architectural form and in their historical period.
Distinctive church buildings are also found in the municipality’s districts. The Catholic branch church of St. Pankratius in Kirchisen is a late Baroque hall church with a recessed polygonal choir and a late Gothic west tower. It was rebuilt in 1745 on the foundations of a late medieval predecessor. In Neufahrn stands the Catholic branch church of St. Rupertus, a late Gothic hall church with a three-sided apse and a west tower; it was given a Baroque makeover in 1725. These features help distinguish the churches: St. Pankratius combines a late Baroque form with a late Gothic tower, while St. Rupertus in Neufahrn combines a late Gothic hall church with later Baroque alterations.
Getting There and Finding Your Way
For road travel, the A 94 crosses the municipality from west to east. The Mühldorf-West interchange (AS 19) is to the west. On the Munich–Simbach railway line, operated by Südostbayernbahn, the line runs through the municipality in the south and along the southern edge of the village of Hart. There is no stop there. Rail connections for Mettenheim are available in Ampfing and at Mühldorf station (Oberbay.) in Mühldorf am Inn. For planning your journey, road and rail access should therefore be considered differently: the railway line passes through the municipality, while the rail connections mentioned are in Ampfing and Mühldorf.
Culture and Nature in the Wider Destination of MĂĽhldorf Am Inn
If you would like to explore cultural themes beyond Mettenheim’s local features, the wider destination of Mühldorf Am Inn offers its own points of interest. The 500-meter-long town square is lined with colorful facades in the Inn-Salzach architectural style. The square is home to the Salzburg fountain, gifted by Prince-Archbishop Johannes Ernst von Thun in 1692. A short walk through the old town offers a glimpse of the district town’s history and architectural beauty.
The history and present-day use of two granaries can also be considered separately: Haberkasten and Kornkasten were built in the 15th century; Haberkasten was later converted into a cultural center. Since 1999, the courtyard has hosted an annual summer festival during the first two weeks of July. Exhibitions at the MĂĽhldorf a. Inn History Center and Museum explore both how people interacted with the Inn in the past and today and the history of the district during the National Socialist era. The Jagdmus(s)eum Kotter takes a quirky, humorous and at the same time critical look at the hunting scene, rather than displaying a traditional trophy collection or a wall of weapons.
For a different way to experience the landscape, the Innaue nature trail connects the town of Mühldorf a. Inn with the local recreation area south of the Inn. The circular route is both an educational trail and a walking path, features eleven interactive stations, and is suitable for strollers and families. Visitors can also cross the Inn on the historic, cable-operated “Josef III” towing ferry. These cultural and natural attractions belong to the wider destination of Mühldorf Am Inn and should be distinguished from the features of Mettenheim described above.
Discover more destinations: Neumarkt-Sankt Veit, Kraiburg Am Inn, MĂĽhldorf Am Inn, Haag In Oberbayern, Heldenstein, Waldkraiburg, Erharting, Ampfing
Back to the overview of the wider destination: MĂĽhldorf Am Inn.
