The baroque pilgrimage church in Wilparting

Many viewers might find the sight of this beautiful church, framed by lush meadows against a mountain panorama, quite familiar. This pilgrimage church stands on one of the busiest travel routes heading south, on the A8 motorway between Munich and Rosenheim at Irschenberg. I myself have driven past it countless times and was always struck by its beauty, each time thinking that I should stop by one day.

On All Saints’ Day 2016, the time had finally come, especially as locals had recommended the impressive panorama from the summit of the Irschenberg to me. Restricted by knee pain, a mountain hike was out of the question on this gorgeous autumn day anyway. Even though I looked wistfully at the mountains, I was more than compensated on my trip to this Bavarian landmark.

The Wilparting pilgrimage church rises above the graves of the two saints, St Marinus and Anian; it is one of the oldest Christian places of worship in Bavaria and a significant place of pilgrimage. According to tradition, the two Irish missionaries, Bishop Marinus and his deacon Anian, came to Bavaria in 657 AD to spread the Christian faith. Marinus lived in Wilparting on the Irschenberg and Anian in nearby Alb, until Marinus was attacked, tortured, and burnt at the stake in 697 AD. Anian died of old age at the same time.

Based on late Gothic elements from the 17th century, the church was given its baroque appearance in the 18th century. The ensemble, which is well worth seeing, also includes a small, octagonal St Vitus Chapel.