Altötting between the Inn, Salzach and culture
Accommodation in Altötting
The district of Altötting lies between the Inn and Salzach, where a broad river plain meets green rolling hills. The region is also home to towns with important churches and museums, wetlands along the Inn, and routes for cycling and pilgrimage. When choosing a holiday apartment, you might first consider whether you want to focus your stay primarily on the culture of Altötting, nature experiences by the river, or longer routes through the region.
River landscapes and protected nature
The roughly 10-kilometre-wide plain through which the Inn flows is bordered to the north and south by lush green hills. This landscape alternates between an open river valley and higher-lying green areas. The Dachlwand am Inn nature reserve lies northwest of Marktl and covers parts of the municipalities of Marktl, Erlbach and Perach, spanning around 206 hectares. In 1986, it was redesignated from a landscape conservation area to a nature reserve.
The Unterer Inn wetland and nature reserve between Haiming and Neuhaus is of international importance. It provides habitat for migratory, overwintering and breeding marsh and water birds; more than 25 different bird species associated with aquatic and wetland habitats breed there. Visitors especially interested in river landscapes and birdlife will find a different focus here than among the district’s churches and museums.
In Altöttinger Gries, a nature trail connects a stream with ten interactive stations. The circular route there is approximately 1.4 kilometres long. This specific distance can help you plan a short, separate walk in the Gries; it does not indicate the length of other routes in the region. The Peracher Badesee is another nature destination listed among the district’s swimming lakes.
Churches, craftsmanship and local history
In Altötting stands the Basilica of St. Anne, the largest church in the town. It can accommodate more than 8,000 people. The Chapel of Grace makes a very different architectural impression: its octagonal structure probably dates to around the year 700 and is thought to be Germany’s oldest central-plan building. The two buildings offer an opportunity to explore different forms of sacred architecture; the dating of the octagon is explicitly only an assumption.
The Golden Horse, made in 1404 in the Paris court workshops, is housed in the Altötting Treasury. The Incense Museum provides information about the craftsmanship involved in making incense. At the Brother Conrad Museum, visitors can see the Old Gate and Brother Conrad’s death cell. The Brother Conrad meeting rooms are open to visitors free of charge. These different places focus on craftsmanship, incense and Brother Conrad, and can be given distinct weight according to your cultural interests during your stay.
Another striking structure in the region is Burghausen Castle: it is 1,051 metres long and has six courtyards. Its length and sequence of courtyards give it a different scale from the individual religious and museum sites in Altötting.
Getting around on foot or by bike
The Inn Cycle Path offers a longer route for linking several towns in the region. One popular variant runs from Neuötting through Altötting and the extensive Öttinger Forst forest to the ducal town of Burghausen. It also passes the confluence of the Inn and Salzach on its way to Marktl. The section in the Inn-Salzach region is just over 75 kilometres long.
There are also different options for walking: the Way of St. James crosses Altötting from north to south. The Georg Brenner Hiking Trail is a permanently signposted 10-kilometre route leading south from Altötting to the district of Unterschlottham. When choosing where to stay, it may therefore be important to consider whether you are mainly interested in Altötting as a base for cultural visits, a single hiking route, or the longer cycling section.
Together with the district of Mühldorf, the district of Altötting belongs to the Inn-Salzach tourism region. Visitor information for the region includes, among other things, cycling and pilgrimage routes, museums and swimming lakes. Other places to consider when exploring the district include Tüßling, Garching an der Alz, Burgkirchen an der Alz, Unterneukirchen, Winhöring, Emmerting, Pleiskirchen, Töging am Inn, Feichten and Reischach.
For the broader travel overview: Bavaria.
