Hikes in Erdweg

Passing churches from various centuries, we hike from Erdweg through the Dachau hinterland to Altomünster.

On the meditation path »Going into the Self« Once upon a time, on the Petersberg, the center of power of the Wittelsbach county of Glaneck, stood the Glaneck Castle dating back to around the year 1000, whose buildings were incorporated into the Benedictine monastery founded about 100 years later. Only the monastery church remains, which, after the re-Romanization (early 20th century), is the only building in the Dachau district to feature Romanesque forms. The destination of our hike is Altomünster, where until 2017 the only Bridgettine monastery in the German-speaking region existed. The special and new aspect for the time of the order founded by Saint Bridget of Sweden in 1346 is that nuns and monks live in a combined monastery, and an abbess is elected as the head. Due to secularization, the men's monastery was dissolved, but the women's monastery existed until a few years ago. The monastery church of St. Alto and St. Birgitta, newly built in 1763/73, is considered the last great Baroque church building in Upper Bavaria.

Farm villages and quiet paths in the Dachau hinterlandOn the route from Erdweg via Eichhofen to Langenpettenbach, we hike through a remote landscape where deer, pheasants, and birds of prey are often spotted. We get to know a particularly charming piece of Old Bavaria halfway through the route with the over 1250-year-old village of Langenpettenbach. Its name in the local Bavarian dialect is "Bembo", and the inhabitants are the "Bembegga." Also curious is the local St. Michael's Church: In 1922, a new church was built across the existing late Gothic church, resulting in a cruciform overall building. Before we set off again, we can refresh ourselves with food and drink in the cozy country inn or its in-house butcher shop. The counterpoint to these hearty delights is provided at the end of the tour by the basilica on Petersberg, where the spirit quickly clears in the austere simplicity of one of the most important Romanesque buildings far and wide.

​This multi-stage hike largely follows the official “InSichGehen” hiking trail, which was established by the Dachauer Land Tourism Association. Designed as a “meditative hiking trail between the former monastery sites of Petersberg and Altomünster,” it invites hikers to find peace and relaxation and to come into harmony with themselves and the world. Indeed, the landscape and the cultural landmarks along the route are perfect for this.   We start at the Erdweg 1 S-Bahn station on the S-Bahn line from Munich to Altomünster. From the parking lots on the west side of the station, we head northwest and find a signpost for Petersberg in front of the former station building. We follow the footpath alongside the road and cross the Glonn River. In the village of Petersberg, we cross a road onto “Von-Soden-Weg.” Then we follow the footpath signs and ascend Petersberg along the Sculpture Trail—partly via stairs. Once at the top, we head to the Church of St. Peter and Paul 2. The former monastery church is considered one of the most significant Romanesque church buildings in Old Bavaria. However, its preservation is owed solely to an extensive restoration in the early 20th century, during which its original architectural form was restored. Petersberg was once the site of the High Middle Ages-era Glaneck Castle of the Counts of Scheyern—it guarded the fork in the old Roman road from Augsburg to Freising. This castle was abandoned in the early 12th century and bequeathed to the Benedictine Order. However, it served as a monastery for only 16 years. When the Lords of Scheyern moved into their new Wittelsbach Castle near Aichach (see Tour 4), the monks left the Petersberg monastery once again.  In front of St. Peter and Paul Church, we find the first information sign for the “InSichGehen” trail. The marked trail leads us northeast from Petersberg , across a pedestrian bridge over the S-Bahn tracks to the road. We follow the road along a footpath past the fire station. We leave the village of Petersberg and keep left at a T-intersection. Heading north, we continue to follow the “InSichGehen” markings. From here on, it’s worth looking back often. In a thicket of hedges to the left of the trail, we discover Field Cross 3, which commemorates the Eisenhofen land consolidation. There are two shaded benches by the cross. We follow the interesting scale model showing the distance from Earth to the Sun, where we trust the signpost reading “Altomünster 1h 45min.” Zigzagging along the edge of the forest, we reach the Living Sundial 4 and, shortly thereafter, the Land Consolidation Chapel 5.  The signpost “Altomünster 5.5 km” directs us northward along the edge of the forest, through the wooded area, and on toward Happach. Just outside the village, we reach a paved road, turn left, and walk past the village on the right. At the field cross at the edge of town, we turn right—be sure to check out the information board about the restoration of the Happach bakehouse! At the edge of the forest, we come across another field cross 6. We walk to the left and stay on the widest path, which is marked in some places. Be sure to note the huge, multi-stemmed beech tree at the “Klangholz Station” as well as the old trees further along the trail. We pass a solar farm—then cross the road from Markt Indersdorf to Altomünster. The signs for Kalvarienberg (25 min) and Altomünster (45 min) show us the way. At a field barn, we come to the Birgittenweg and follow it to the left—this takes us along Tour 3 for about 500 meters, though in the opposite direction. At a prominent intersection (No. 7) near a field cross with two benches and several information signs, we leave the path shared with Tour 3 and turn right (signposts for Kalvarienberg and Altomünster). Soon, the path turns right and climbs slightly, then turns left again at a group of trees. About halfway to Hohenried (information board for the Birgitten Convent), we continue to follow the signs and arrive at the Kalvarienberg Chapel 8. We descend the staircase lined with old linden trees, a Way of the Cross, and so-called “listening stations.” We cross the meadow to the wide path and continue on a gentle incline toward Altomünster. We walk through a residential neighborhood toward the town center, continuing straight ahead at the right-of-way sign onto Leopold-Schweiger-Straße (signs for the S-Bahn and the market square). We follow the signs to the museum—the pretty monastery garden is right next to it. Through the St. Birgitten passage (which begins at the emergency meeting point by the museum; see photo) or around the buildings of the former monastery, we reach the impressive Church of St. Alto and St. Birgitta 9. A visit to the monastery shop rounds out the experience. From the market square, with its well-maintained row of houses and fountain, we walk past the Maierbräu brewery onto Bahnhofstraße. At Angergraben, we keep to the left and reach the Altomünster j S-Bahn station.

Circular tour through the forest near Gaggers.

Several waystations encourage pausing and reflecting. Perhaps they set a stream of thoughts in motion that accompanies the hikers on the 10km route and beyond?

Through the Fußbergmoos into the Dachau hills In the northwest of Munich, the S-Bahn lines S 3 and S 2 enable a wonderful route hike from south to north, on which you get to know quiet, extensive landscapes - first flat, then hilly: starting in Gernlinden, we hike through the Fußbergmoos, a large fen where primeval cattle graze and rare animal and plant species are native. We then cross the A8 highway, which is also the border to the tertiary hill country, enjoy magnificent views of the Alps from the hills near Deutenhausen and shortly afterwards reach the highest point in the district of Dachau. This is followed by around ten kilometers of walking through secluded forests and fields before descending to the end of the hike in the Glonntal valley.

Varied tour through forests and fields, several small chapels along the way.

Nur 200 Meter lang und doch enorm intensiv: