Waldhausen: Architectural History at St. Martin

Discovering Waldhausen through its architectural history, visitors encounter several clearly distinguishable periods at the filial church of St. Martin. The cemetery chapel, tower, nave and chancel each represent a separate construction phase. The transition from a presumed late medieval origin through neo-Gothic forms to the 1950 construction provides a concrete point of interest for culture enthusiasts. The wider travel destination of Schnaitsee offers additional topics related to churches, viewpoints, cycling, hiking and swimming.

St. Martin: Architectural History Through Several Periods

The cemetery chapel at St. Martin’s Church in Waldhausen probably dates from the second half of the 15th century and was later given a neo-Gothic appearance. This brings together a presumed late medieval origin and a later period of design. Visitors who view historic buildings as layers from different periods can consider both side by side, rather than reducing the chapel to a single year of construction.

At the filial church of St. Martin, the other dates relate to different parts of the building: the lower part of the tower dates from the late Middle Ages, while the neo-Gothic upper section was added in the late 19th century. The nave and chancel were built in 1950 by Friedrich F. Haindl. The periods can thus be distinguished in specific parts of the building: the lower section, the upper part of the tower and the church interior.

More to Discover in the Wider Travel Destination of Schnaitsee

In Schnaitsee, the wider travel destination, different church designs can be found side by side. With its distinctive double onion dome, the church tower in Schnaitsee has long been a landmark of the village. The tower of St. Elisabeth’s Church is pointed, while St. Anna’s Church has a roof turret. The small subsidiary church of St. Elisabeth is also a historic point of interest in its own right: it stands to the southwest, near the parish church, and was built in 1495 as a foundation of the Elisabeth Brotherhood. Waldhausen and the wider Schnaitsee area thus offer a focus on different church histories.

Viewpoints are another feature of the wider Schnaitsee area: panoramic maps are displayed on the observation tower in Obernhof. When visibility is good, the view south may extend across the Chiemsee basin to the Central Alps and as far as the Großglockner. The panoramic maps on the tower and the possible long-distance view provide two different ways to orient yourself in the landscape.

The wider Schnaitsee area has cycling and hiking trails for getting active. The signposted Schnaitsee cycling loop runs around Schnaitsee, is about 37 kilometres long and can be ridden in either direction. It runs mainly along side roads, which are mostly asphalted and partly gravelled. As surface conditions may change, it is advisable to check the route information before setting out. The hiking trails in Schnaitsee start at the town hall or the television tower; these starting points provide a clear reference for planning a hike.

Another option in the wider Schnaitsee area is the lido at Weitsee. It has a spacious sunbathing lawn, jetties and a kiosk, as well as play and sports areas, a diving tower and a shallow swimming area for children. Alongside churches and trails, visitors can also enjoy water, play and sports activities. If you are planning a day of swimming, check the information for the relevant bathing season.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on during your holiday: should the architectural history of St. Martin in Waldhausen be the main attraction, or are the churches, trails, cycling loop and lido in the wider Schnaitsee area more important? This helps you tailor your search to the travel interests that matter for your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Traunreut, Palling, Staudach-Egerndach, Reit Im Winkl, Schnaitsee, Unterwössen, Trostberg An Der Alz, Grassau

To the wider travel overview: Traunstein.