Pittenhart: Salt Route, Roman History and Chiemsee Views

Pittenhart brings together historic routes, traces of Roman times, art in St. Nicholas Parish Church, and views of Lake Chiemsee. It is also the starting point for a major pilgrimage to Maria Eck, held every year at the end of September. While the pilgrimage takes place on a recurring date, the other points of interest range from local history to the surrounding landscape.

Historic Routes and Roman Times

The route of the historic “Golden Salt Route” can still be traced across the entire municipality today. In front of the “Alte Zollstation” inn, a sculpture of an ox team and wagon, along with an information board, points to Pittenhart’s location on the route of the Roman road from Salzburg to Augsburg. The Salt Route can therefore be understood as a route crossing the municipality, while the information at the Alte Zollstation identifies the Roman road route from Salzburg to Augsburg. The “Tafern von Pittenhart” in the Alte Zollstation probably dates back to before 1200.

Roman Traces and Church Art

A Roman column is still incorporated into the lower level of Oberbrunn Castle. It suggests that a Roman fort once stood on this site. There is also a Roman place of worship at Höhenberg. Together with the reference to the Roman road, these are different connections to Roman times: a transport route, a possible fort site, and a place of worship.

Figures of Saint Erasmus by the Master of Seeon, dating from around 1430, are found in St. Nicholas Parish Church in Pittenhart. The left side altar was created by Johann Georg Lindt in 1766. The artworks therefore span dates from around 1430 to 1766; compared with the “Tafern von Pittenhart,” which probably dates back to before 1200, they are considerably later.

Landscape and Pilgrimage

The hill at Höhenberg known as “Kanabe” offers beautiful views of Lake Chiemsee. Pittenhart is also close to the Seeoner Seen Nature Reserve and the nature reserves of the Eggstätt Lakes District. This means that views of Lake Chiemsee and nearby protected areas offer distinct ways to experience the landscape.

A major pilgrimage travels from Pittenhart to Maria Eck every year at the end of September. The parish describes it as a tradition that has existed for many hundreds of years. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, check the exact date and participation details in advance.

The plague cemetery was established near Pittenhart in 1634.

Traunstein as a Regional Setting

Lake Chiemsee and Lake Waginger are located in the district of Traunstein. The district also has more than 170 alpine pastures and peaks reaching heights of up to 2,000 metres in the Chiemgau Alps. These details extend beyond Pittenhart and complement the village’s specific points of interest with lakes, alpine pastures, and mountain elevations in the district of Traunstein.

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