Just about every hour trains leave Munich, Tegernsee, and Holzkirchen for the Upper Bavarian town of Waakirchen. And it’s worth the wait if you’ve just missed one.
You’ll find delightful churches and chapels throughout its seven villages — as well as an interesting piece of German history.
Three hundred years ago it wasn’t so pleasant to be around these parts — and the Sendlinger Mordweihnacht Memorial is a testament to that.
On December 25, 1705, Bavarian troops (called insurgents in this case) led by Bavarian folk hero, the Schmied von Kochel against Habsburg Emperor Joseph I’s Imperial Army who occupied these lands. Two hundred years later, King Ludwig III (Mad King Ludwig’s cousin and last Bavarian king) dedicated this monument to the 1,100 who died fighting for their homeland.
A sad tale, but don’t let that keep you from enjoying the rest of Waakirchen. One particular place that should be seen is the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche, or Church of the Holy Cross. This is a pilgrimage church built in 1315, whose said to have a cross that was made in the 10th century.
Many of Waakirchen’s other churches and chapels aren’t anywhere near as old as that — but that doesn’t make them any less wonderful. The Allgaukapelle is small, but quite charming; and the St. James Church is a blend of both Gothic and Baroque.
Waakirchen might be old, but it’s youthful at heart — which is seen by its super fun festivals. The Village Festival (Dorffest) is a 2-day event in June, and there are two Wine Festivals (one September, one in October). August is the month for the Waldfest (Forest Festival), and the town’s Erntedankfest is another October event.
All of the town’s events and sites are surrounded by the wonderful Bavarian Alps, and a stone’s throw from Lake Tegernsee itself — so any street, road, hiking trail, or bike path is a delight taking in the natural scenery.
Yeah, it’s worth the wait for a train to bring you to Waakirchen — heck, I’d wait two hours if I had to. ;-)
