In English the word “rott” may remind you on something not so desirable. In German, it’s a river — and it certainly isn’t just good, it’s great. Which is what I think of Ruhstorf an der Rott.
This Lower Bavarian town of 74 villages (yeah, 74, can you believe it?) lies along some pretty good company, found in what’s called the Niederbayerisches Bäderdreieck, or the Lower Bavarian Spa Triangle. That means you’ll find it right next door to the posh spa towns of Bad Füssing, Bad Griesbach, and Bad Birnbach.
You’ll also find it bordering Fürstenzell and Neuhaus am Inn (the last town in this part of Lower Bavaria before you find yourself in Austria).
Any other time I might not be so inclined to tell you about other places when talking about a specific town, but with all the hiking trails in Ruhstorf, you’re bound to wander off.
One marked hiking trail is the Kichenwanderweg, a route that leads you to some of the best churches in all of Ruhstorf. You’ll pass the Leonhard Chapel, Christ the King, and the Siebenschläferkirche.
The what? Siebenschläferkirche. Or Dormouse Church. The church’s legend says seven people died here in the third century for being Christian. Two centuries later their bodies were found, and they were given their lives back.
Whether the legend is true or not, the fact remains that the Sibenschläferkirche is a fantastic Baroque church, and where you’ll find Roman grave stones.
The Nicholas Church, another church along the Kirchenwanderweg, is another Baroque design. Even if you’re not into scoping out all the churches, the view of the Alps from this walking route makes it well worth it to follow.
A couple of bike trails also take you through Ruhstorf. The Roman Trail comes through from Passau to the Attersee, and the Rottal Cycle Trail is not only family friendly, but picturesque too.
All that activity can make older muscles sore, so a trip to Ruhstof’s sauna is a good idea. An afternoon at the outdoor pool is nice too, but the season ends in September. Doesn’t mean you can’t swim — the indoor pool opens up instead.
Whewww, I’m so glad that Ruhstof an der Rott doesn’t mean rotten — it means terrific in my eyes. :-)
