Just between Landshut and Altötting lies Bodenkirchen, and its handful of villages.
People have lived here for thousands of years, but what it’s really famous for are its Baroque Pilgrimage Church and Michaeliumritt.
This latter one might be more than a mouthful to say, but every two years (odd-numbered years to be precise) is a huge event to honor St. Michael who helped this tiny Lower Bavarian town a few centuries ago.
Thankfully, Bodenkirchen isn’t a one-party town, so even if you’re not able to visit during its Michaeliumritt, you could come for October’s Wine Festival. Or, you could visit during the Maypole Celebrations, its Herbstmarkt (Autumn Market, October), or the Advent Market in early December.
While many people come to Bodenkirchen for its fantastic festivals, for centuries people came the village of Binabiburg on their pilgrimage to the St. Salvator Church. Its dazzling Baroque art and architecture (as beautiful as it is) belies the church’s medieval beginnings. And while you’re in Binabiburg, come see Schloss Binabiburg — another Baroque gem.
Bodenkirchen’s pilgrimage church isn’t the only one worth seeing either. Over at the Church of the Assumption you can see a blend of original Gothic and Neo-Gothic architecture; while the Church of St. Giles, St. Ulrich, and St. John the Baptist have been tending to the spiritual needs of its people as far back as the 1400s. St. Simon & St. Jude church is one of the younger ones — built in the early 16th century.
Holy mackerel, that’s still a whole bunch of Sunday sermons. ;-)
Far be it from me to suggest spending all your time indoors when you’re in Lower Bavaria, so it’s best to find a bike trail or hiking path to spend your day. Ok, maybe two days, as Bodenkirchen lies around the feet of the Alps.
Didn’t I tell you it was pretty? Ohh, I told you it was famous — and now you see why. ;-)
