Wow, I don’t know what’s bigger… the 41 villages that make up the Upper Bavarian town of Großkarolinenfeld, or the name itself.
Yes, I’m being silly, but there isn’t anything silly about this place. It’s extraordinarily beautiful; totally understanding why the ancient Celts wanted to live here. The Romans too for that matter.
How do I know there were Romans here? Well, Großkarolinenfeld borders Rosenheim, an area the Romans called Noricum. And you’re not all that far from the border of Austria.
Oh, history and geography lesson it is… ;-)
Despite having an abundance of villages, there isn’t an abundance of traditional sightseeing. There are mostly churches to see here in Großkarolinenfeld, starting with the Caroline Church. You’ll find this 19th century Lutheran church at Karolinenplatz 3.
Over at Karolinenplatz 9 is the tower that belonged to the Church of the Holy Blood, which has been here since it was built in the 19th century.
None are as old as the Church of St. Leonhard, which has an array of architecture like the Romanesque nave and Gothic choir.
Oh, wait, the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche (Holy Cross Catholic Church) is around the same age. It was built in 1196 as a Gothic church, but the Baroque style wasn’t added until much later on.
Only one more church to see, the Wayside Chapel that was built sometime in the early 19th century.
While you’re going from one church to the other, take notice of all the charming farmhouses along the way. A brisk walk around this agricultural area will do wonders for your psyche.
Then again, a trip over to a health clinic might do the job just the same. The Schloss Prantseck wasn’t always a health clinic with a public indoor pool. It was originally a 16th century castle, but its gardens weren’t added for another three hundred years.
Well, better late than never, huh?
I told you there wasn’t typical sightseeing in Großkarolinenfeld — but that doesn’t mean you won’t appreciate its rustic charm.
