Rathsmannsdorf – Churches, Culture and Hiking Trails

Rathsmannsdorf offers several starting points for a trip focused on church architecture, religious art, culture and hiking. The old and new St. Ulrich churches represent different periods of construction and cultural and art-historical features; Rathsmannsdorf Castle adds to the historical themes. Two hiking options differ in length and format. When planning, you can weigh up whether to focus on churches and art, or also include a circular route or a stage of the VIA NOVA pilgrimage trail.

Churches and Art

The old St. Ulrich Church in Rathsmannsdorf was built around 1400 and renovated from 1986 to 1990. Since the renovation, it has served as a cultural venue, with concerts and exhibitions forming a regular part of its program. The timeline distinguishes between its construction, renovation and later cultural use. For travelers interested in culture, the building’s age is therefore not the only relevant factor; its present-day function matters too.

The new St. Ulrich parish church in Rathsmannsdorf is a Neo-Romanesque building constructed in 1935/36. Its furnishings include two side-altar paintings by Sister Berta Hummel, painted in 1942, a Late Gothic figure of St. Ulrich, and other religious artworks. The construction period, paintings and Late Gothic figure reflect different historical periods. This makes it possible to appreciate the church both for its Neo-Romanesque architecture and for its individual furnishings.

The Castle and Church Architecture

Rathsmannsdorf Castle was acquired in 1449 by Prince-Bishop Leonhard von Layming. As of April 10, 2026, the Bavarian Register of Monuments lists the castle and the former Catholic parish church of St. Ulrich in Rathsmannsdorf. The former parish church is listed as a Gothic hall church with a polygonal choir and a west tower. A hall church has a single, unified main interior; a polygonal choir refers to a many-sided choir termination. A west tower indicates that the tower is on the western side. Together, these terms describe the layout, choir termination and tower position, making the architectural description more specific.

Hiking Trails by Length and Format

The two hiking options differ in route format and length. Circular Hiking Trail No. 12 is an easy, 3.8 km hike through the countryside around Rathsmannsdorf Castle. The operator is listed as Markt Windorf; the route information was last checked on October 11, 2025. Check the latest route information before setting out.

A stage of the VIA NOVA pilgrimage trail covers an 8.6 km section from Vilshofen/Schweiklberg to Rathsmannsdorf in the municipality of Windorf. The two distances allow for a direct comparison: the 8.6 km section is more than twice as long as the 3.8 km circular route. The formats differ too: one route is a circular trail around Rathsmannsdorf Castle, while the other is a pilgrimage-trail stage with named endpoints. When choosing between them, you can therefore consider both the distance and the route format.

Windorf

Windorf has its own hiking and cultural attractions. Windorf’s Danube island has two signposted circular trails offering views of the island, the Danube and the surrounding area. The Sieben-Brückerl Trail leads from Windorf via Hacklsdorf and Hirnschnell to the Siebenbrückerl Chapel; from there, you can either return via Frauendorf or take the shortest route back to Windorf via Wimberg. The Windorf Tourist Information Centre also has an exhibition of ship models.

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Go to the main travel overview: Windorf.