Oh yeah, another week of bumming around southern Germany. This time it’s the Rottal-Inn region, and the town of Kirchdorf am Inn.
It might get a bit confusing around here, because technically you’re in Lower Bavaria — but if you literally cross a particular street, you’re in Upper Bavaria, and if you cross the Inn River you’re in Austria.
So, do we all know where we are now? I sure do, sorta. However, I know a likable town when I see it.
I also know a pretty church when I see it. Take the Pfarrkirche Maria Himmelfahrt (Assumption Church of Mary), for example. There’s something quite striking about a Gothic church from the 1500s, just as there’s something extraordinary about a Rococo church — like the St. John Nepomuk Church from the 1780s.
Don’t take my word for it, come see some of the other churches and chapels found throughout Kirchdorf’s twenty-two villages. The Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Stadleck is a great place to start as any, as would be the St. James the Elder Church (built 1471).
There is one thing, though. If you’re looking for a massive medieval castle, I’m sorry to tell you there aren’t any — but that doesn’t mean Kirchdorf doesn’t have any castles. Schloss Seibersdorf looks more like a manor house; whose oldest part dates back almost five centuries.
The bright white of Seiberdorf Castle is a striking contrast to the grim appearance of Schloss Ritzing. No, it’s not creepy-like grim, more like somber. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a feat of centuries old engineering, so enjoy it. Ritzing, by the way, even had an 18th century Schlossbrauerei (Castle Brewery).
Bavaria and beer, go figure. ;-)
Another great place to enjoy yourself would be the Unterer Inn area, also known as (deep breath) Bayerisch-Oberösterreichisches Europareservat, or Bavarian Upper Austrian Europe Reserve — a nature reserve area where you could spend your entire time here trying to find all 300 species of birds who call this place home.
Or, you could plan a visit to coincide with one of Kirchdorf’s many festivals. The Blütenfest is a May staple, while June and July are busy with two Village Festivals, a Pfarrfest, and a Wine Festival. Of course if you can’t make the summer Weinfest, there’s another one in September.
Now do you see why I say Kirchdorf am Inn is a likable town? I’m pretty sure the wine had nothing to do with it. ;-)
