Pfaffenhofen a.d.Ilm: City History and Discoveries

Pfaffenhofen a.d.Ilm combines historic city scenes with a wide variety of discoveries: a guided tour takes you to well-known landmarks, churches tell the story of several centuries of architectural history, and a tour explores an underground communications bunker. There is also a museum with literary documents and the folk festival in September. This variety helps you plan your trip around the experiences that interest you and find a suitable holiday apartment as a base for your stay.

City History on a Guided Tour

The Pfaffenhofen Tour is a guided historical walk with around 15 stops. From the town hall, it passes the former city wall and the parish church of St. John the Baptist before reaching the Marian column on the main square. The route brings together several reminders of the city’s history without limiting you to a single building. As information about the tour schedule may change over time, it is advisable to check the latest date before your visit.

The three-aisled parish church of St. John the Baptist was rebuilt in the Late Gothic style after the great city fire of 1388 and completed in 1409. Its construction history can thus be viewed in relation to the earlier city fortifications: the Flaschlturm, also known as the town tower at Platzl, is a remnant of these former fortifications. The Church of the Holy Spirit adds a later chapter to the historical picture. An unknown master builder constructed it between 1716 and 1719 as the church of the former Franciscan monastery.

Bunker Tour and Literary Documents

The bunker tour offers a different perspective on the city’s history. It leads through the rooms and winding corridors of the underground communications bunker, which covers more than 1,400 square metres. Advance registration is required for this tour; for safety reasons, the number of participants is limited to 18. Check the current booking conditions before planning your visit.

The Joseph Maria Lutz Museum focuses on the life and work of the literary author Joseph Maria Lutz. Exhibits include manuscripts, correspondence with writers such as Thomas Mann and Stefan Zweig, photographs and awards. Those interested in literature will find a different way to discover the city here than on a tour of its churches and former fortifications.

Main Square and Folk Festival

The lower part of the main square is partly pedestrianised. Park benches and water and lighting installations invite you to linger. This means you can also enjoy the square as a distinct part of the city experience, independently of a guided tour.

The Pfaffenhofen folk festival takes place in September, begins on the first Friday of the month and lasts for twelve festival days. The festival features three beer tents, a varied culinary selection with regional specialities, and both modern and nostalgic fairground rides. This mix offers different reasons to visit; individual attractions may change. As the exact start date depends on the calendar, check the specific dates for your travel year.

District Highlights in the Wider Pfaffenhofen An Der Ilm Destination

Beyond the city, the wider Pfaffenhofen An Der Ilm destination offers more ideas for planning your holiday. In the southern part of the Pfaffenhofen a.d. Ilm district, the landscape is shaped by the Tertiary hill country, with gentle hills and valleys. For active days, the district has well-signposted cycle routes through river valleys, as well as themed cycling tours centred on asparagus and hops. In many communities, themed hiking trails and walking paths invite you to spend time in nature. These are district-wide highlights and should not be confused with the attractions described within the city.

Culture and seasonal experiences can also be explored across this wider region. The German Hop Museum in Wolnzach presents more than 1,000 years of hop-growing history; its subjects include old hop weighing tickets and the art of brewing beer. If you are interested in local produce, you can pick blueberries yourself in fields between Pfaffenhofen and Rohrbach or in Feilenmoos. This is a seasonal option, so check availability in advance. The district also has two 18-hole golf courses; check their availability before travelling.

When choosing your holiday apartment, you can weigh up whether city history, a visit during the folk festival or activities in the district will be the deciding factor for your stay. To explore more destinations, see also:

Scheyern, Gerolsbach, Vohburg An Der Donau, Schweitenkirchen, Reichertshofen, Manching, Münchsmünster, Wolnzach.

For the overview of the wider destination: Pfaffenhofen An Der Ilm.