Pittenhart: Roman History, Pilgrimage and Views of Lake Chiemsee
Accommodation in Pittenhart
Pittenhart brings together traces of old routes, Roman history, religious art and views of Lake Chiemsee. It is also home to a pilgrimage that, according to the parish community, has been held for many hundreds of years. If you would like to combine different interests on your trip, the town offers a range of themes: you can explore historic roads, admire religious art or focus on the landscape around Höhenberg and the nearby nature reserves.
Historic Routes and Roman Traces
The route of the historic “Güldene Salzstraße” (Golden Salt Road) can still be traced across the entire municipality of Pittenhart. For travellers interested in history, this offers a distinctive connection to the town’s past: the route is more than just a name—it can be followed across the municipality. You can consider this historic connection as you explore Pittenhart, without conflating it with the other Roman sites.
In front of the “Alte Zollstation” inn, a sculpture of an ox team and wagon, along with an information panel, points to Pittenhart’s location on the route of the Roman road from Salzburg to Augsburg. The “Tafern von Pittenhart” (Pittenhart Inn) is also associated with the Alte Zollstation. It probably dates back to a time before 1200.
Roman history can also be found elsewhere in a different form: a Roman column is still incorporated into the lower floor of Oberbrunn Castle. It suggests that a Roman fort once stood on this site. There is also a Roman place of worship at Höhenberg. The column, the place of worship and the reference to the Roman road offer distinct historical points of interest that you can consider separately during your stay.
Religious Art and Pilgrimage
St. Nicholas Parish Church in Pittenhart contains figures of St Erasmus by the Master of Seeon, dating from around 1430. The church’s left side altar was created by Johann Georg Lindt in 1766. These details point to different aspects of art history: figures from around 1430 on the one hand, and an altar with a named creator and a specific year of creation on the other. If you are interested in religious art, these provide concrete starting points for exploring the church.
A recurring religious event is the major pilgrimage from Pittenhart to Maria Eck. It takes place every year at the end of September; the parish community describes it as a tradition that has continued for many hundreds of years. This makes the time of year a clear reference point for planning your trip. Unlike the town’s historic sites, the pilgrimage has an annual date and follows the route from Pittenhart to Maria Eck.
Landscape and Visiting Times
At Höhenberg, the rise known as “Kanabe” offers beautiful views of Lake Chiemsee. The Seeoner Seen Nature Reserve and the nature reserves of the Eggstätt Lakes District are also close to Pittenhart. The views and protected areas provide a natural counterpoint to the themes of local history and religious art. If you are weighing nature and history differently when choosing your destination, these local attractions can help you decide what to focus on.
Within the municipality, Hilgerhof is open every Sunday from April to October, from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. You can take these regular opening hours into account when planning your day. Also nearby, the plague cemetery was established in 1634. Its origins add a distinct historical note alongside the Roman traces and the older Tafern.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Pittenhart, you can consider which of these aspects you would like to shape your stay: religious art, the pilgrimage, historic roads and Roman connections, or the views and nearby nature reserves. This makes Pittenhart a destination with several distinct areas of interest. You can also explore Kienberg as a destination in its own right.
For the broader travel overview: Obing.
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