Iffeldorf: Hiking, Osterseen and Culture

Hiking Trails with Different Starting Points

The Natura 2000 route through the Osterseen is 10 kilometres long and takes about three hours. It starts either at the Osterseen car park on Jägergasse or at Iffeldorf railway station. This gives you two different starting points to choose from. If you want to plan a hike with a specified distance and approximate duration, you can use these details to help plan your excursion.

Another option is Route 25, marked in blue. It starts in Iffeldorf and circles the Ostersee. Unlike the Natura 2000 route, this description follows the route around the lake without specifying a distance or walking time. The “Hike around the Osterseen” is a gentle nature experience through Iffeldorf. The long-distance hiking trail “Heilige Landschaft Pfaffenwinkel” also passes through the village. You can therefore choose between a route with a stated distance and duration, a marked circuit around the Ostersee, and a long-distance trail that crosses Iffeldorf.

You can also take your journey there into account when planning: Iffeldorf is connected to the Munich–Tutzing–Kochel railway line. Iffeldorf railway station is also one of the two specified starting points for the Natura 2000 route. So if you are looking for a holiday apartment as a base for hiking days, you can check whether the rail connection and your preferred starting point for the hike fit your travel plans.

Parish Church, Frescoes and Heuwinkl Chapel

The frescoes in St. Vitus Parish Church are a notable cultural attraction. They were painted by Johann Jakob Zeiller (1708–1783) from Tyrol. The church received its Rococo interior in the mid-18th century. These details give your visit a specific art-historical focus: you can identify the frescoes with a named artist and place the interior in the mid-18th century.

The Heuwinkl Chapel, a Marian pilgrimage site, is located on the eastern edge of the village. It is also the focus of the annual candlelight procession, held on the second Sunday in September. The procession makes its way from the parish church to the chapel and is accompanied by the Iffeldorf Music Band. If you visit Iffeldorf at this time, the procession offers a special opportunity to learn about local tradition. The church, chapel and procession each highlight different aspects of religious life in the village: the Rococo interior and frescoes at St. Vitus, and the pilgrimage site on the outskirts.

A Visit to Gut Aiderbichl

Gut Aiderbichl in Iffeldorf offers visits to the stables and enclosures, as well as exhibitions and video presentations. This provides another focus for your visit, alongside hiking and church art. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to allow more time for outdoor trails, cultural attractions or the different areas open to visitors at Gut Aiderbichl.

For the overview of the wider region: Seeshaupt.