What do you do when one of your biggest neighbors is magnificent Munich? This is a simple question that should be posed by the town of Aying, but there’s no easy answer. C’mon, did you really expect there to be one?
Don’t look at me like it’s a bad thing — this is Upper Bavaria, after all.
So, as I’ve said oh-so-countless-times before, there’s no better place to be than outdoors. Now, stop reading this and go see the private zoo named BergTierPark, or find your happy place amongst the trails of the Kupferbachtal or in the Hofeldinger Forest.
Wait, I take that back… don’t go until you’ve read more about Aying. Like, don’t you want to hear about how the Romans tromped on through, as Aying was located on the Via Julia. Ohhh, yet another area to enjoy while on a bike ride. Just follow the blue signs on the old military road, OK?
While you’re out and about through Aying, you’re sure to see some excellent architecture. You’re nearby places like Schloss Egmating (17th century), or Schloss Zinneberg — but within Aying’s official 44.98 square kilometers, you’ll find some gems.
In the village of Kleinhelfendorf is the Marterkapelle, a graceful chapel with an onion dome, which isn’t to be confused with the Church of St. Emmeram, a medieval original.
The village of Peiß has a Baroque church to see, the Church of St. Nicholas, built in the last years of the 17th century. And you’ve got the Church of St. Andreas, in yet another of Aying’s nineteen districts, this one from the 14th/15th century.
Sixthof is home to an old farm that doubles at a Local History Museum (of sorts), inside are exhibits on crafts and furnishings of a time long gone. No need to wallow over how good it was WAY-BACK-WHEN. But, discussing it over a delicious beer is totally acceptable.
Good thing Aying has its own brewery, and an award winning one at that. Brauerei Aying is a privately owned brewery that makes its beers with mineral water from its own well. I ask you, how cool is that?
And thanks to the strict laws of Munich’s Oktoberfest, Aying is “forced” to old its own festival with a beer tent and lots of traditional foods being served. This isn’t Aying’s only festival, oh heck no.
Come in May for the Maypole celebrations, or the end of November for the Glühweinfest (Mulled Wine Festival), and December brings around the obligatory Christmas Market.
As if those aren’t great enough, Peiß hosts an annual Dorffest (Village Festival) — and throughout the year are Amateur Theater performances.
As I said, there’s no easy answer about what to do when Munich is your big neighbor… but it looks like Aying is doing just fine all on its own.
