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.
Kirchdorf am Inn — Top Areas Of Interest
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. ;-)