Großholzhausen can be explored through three distinct themes: the Lourdes Chapel, remembrance at the oak cross and the Way of St. James. This distinction is helpful when planning your trip: a stay can focus more on quiet contemplation and local history, or on a hiking stage. You can first decide whether you would like to focus on cultural and religious sites, historical remembrance or outdoor activity.

Lourdes Chapel: origins and a quiet visit

The Lourdes Chapel in Großholzhausen was built in 1912 by the Mairbauer family out of gratitude and in fulfilment of a vow. A Lourdes grotto is located at the centre of the chapel. Both the specific reason for its construction and the grotto shape the character of this religious site. The chapel invites quiet contemplation; the use of candles is discouraged. If you are looking for a peaceful cultural and religious focus in addition to hiking, you can include the chapel as a visit in its own right.

Remembrance across different periods

The oak cross erected in Großholzhausen in 1834 commemorates the people from Holzhausen who died of the plague in 1611. At St. George’s Church in Großholzhausen, the tradition of the Holy Sepulchre probably dates back to 1830. The dates can be read as a chronology: probably around 1830, 1834 and 1912. However, they relate to different things: a religious tradition, remembrance of plague victims and devotion to Lourdes. This gives you a more precise picture of the different historical connections, rather than combining them into a single story.

The Way of St. James and the footpath to Schwarzlack

Großholzhausen lies on the moderately difficult Stage 17 of the Way of St. James, from Au near Bad Aibling to the Inn Valley; it is 45.9 kilometres long. The 45.9 kilometres refer to the entire stage. From the Baroque parish church of St. George, the footpath climbs uphill to Schwarzlack. These two route details provide different scales for planning your trip. Check the current route and trail conditions before setting out.

Moorland in the wider destination of Raubling

Another focus lies in the wider destination of Raubling: the Nicklheim Moor Station is designed as an environmental education centre for schools. The Nicklheim Moor Station discovery walk first leads to a birdwatching station, then past the Green Classroom and a peat workers’ hut to a viewing platform overlooking the moor. This sequence combines observation, learning and views of the moor, offering a different focus from Großholzhausen’s churches and places of remembrance.

The Nicklheim Filze is home to peat mosses, sundews, numerous dragonfly species and many rare bird species, especially during bird migration season. Together with the birdwatching station and views of the moor, this creates a nature theme that is clearly distinct from Großholzhausen’s religious history.

Choose your accommodation focus

If you are looking for a holiday apartment, first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: should your stay be devoted mainly to Großholzhausen’s religious and historical sites, the Way of St. James stage or nature in the wider destination of Raubling? Tailor your search to whichever of these experiences matters most to you during your stay.

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