Sankt Marienkirchen am Hausruck: Hiking and Local History

When planning your trip to Sankt Marienkirchen am Hausruck, hiking and local history are two clear points of interest. The cross-border Marien Hiking Trail and the hike through the Hausruck offer different ways to explore the town and its surroundings. The town’s church history includes the listed parish church of the Assumption of Mary, the historic rectory, and the story of a former pilgrimage site. A sports court and the farm shop at the Wellinger organic farm add to the local attractions. This gives you the chance to decide whether hiking, architectural history, or products from the farm’s own agricultural production will be the focus of your trip.

Hiking on Two Different Routes

Founded in 2014, the cross-border Marien Hiking Trail connects historic pilgrimage sites. It runs from Sankt Marienkirchen am Hausruck in Upper Austria via Burghausen to Altötting in Bavaria and is 130 kilometres long. You can hike individual sections as day hikes or use it as a long-distance trail. Most of the route follows natural paths. The landscape includes small, quiet streams, impressive ravines carved by torrents, ponds or kettle holes, and steep slopes with unusual breaks.

The hike through the Hausruck begins at the Hohes Kreuz car park near Haag am Hausruck. From there, it leads either via Symbrunn or via Luisenhöhe and the observation tower to the boundary stone, then on to the fire brigade cross and along the Stations of the Cross to Sankt Marienkirchen am Hausruck. To get there, take the A8 and exit at Haag am Hausruck, whether travelling from Passau or Linz. The routes differ in character: the Marien Hiking Trail focuses on its cross-border connection and the option of hiking individual sections as day trips, while the hike through the Hausruck has a named starting point, alternative routes, and a route to Sankt Marienkirchen. Check trail conditions before setting off; road conditions and signage can also change.

Church, Rectory, and Pilgrimage History

The Catholic parish church of the Assumption of Mary is a listed building and is believed to have been built around 1450. The present-day rectory was built between 1862 and 1864. Together with its outbuildings, it is also a listed building. The church and rectory date from different periods and offer two concrete points of interest for exploring the town’s history.

In 1785, Sankt Marienkirchen am Hausruck became an independent parish; until then, the community had been served by clergy from the parish of Eberschwang. The history of pilgrimage is a separate matter: until the 18th century, Sankt Marienkirchen was a thriving pilgrimage site. From 1783 to 1785, pilgrimages were prohibited under Emperor Joseph II. The parish community did not become a pilgrimage site again afterwards. The former pilgrimage tradition and the establishment of an independent parish thus belong to the same era, but describe different developments.

In 1985, the St Nicholas Chapel was built in Pilgersham on the site of the former St Nicholas Church. It, too, links a specific place with part of the community’s church history.

Sport and Products from the Farm

Opened in 2009, the FunCourt is opposite the municipal works depot and provides children and adults with a playing field for various sports, including basketball, football, and badminton. If you plan to use the court, check access and facilities beforehand, as both can change.

The Wellinger organic farm runs a farm shop in Sankt Marienkirchen am Hausruck, selling products from its own agricultural production. This adds a specific connection to local produce to the themes of hiking and architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Kirchheim im Innkreis, Utzenaich, Obernberg am Inn, Eitzing, Mettmach, Waldzell, Mehrnbach, Tumeltsham

For the overview of the wider area: Ried im Innkreis.