Mindelstetten: Pilgrimage History and Market

Mindelstetten combines the pilgrimage history surrounding Anna Schäffer with the annual Mindelstetten Market. This offers two different reasons to plan a trip: a stay connected with Anna Schäffer and the places that commemorate her, or a visit centered on the multi-day festival. Local highlights include the parish church, her birthplace and a cycling route from Hüttenhausen; the market features a parade and show jumping events.

Anna Schäffer: Tomb and Pilgrimage Sites

The first tomb of Saint Anna Schäffer is located by the church tower in Mindelstetten. In the old neo-Gothic St. Nicholas Parish Church, the tomb of Saint Anna Schäffer lies beneath the tomb monument in the nave. The church dates from 1904/05. The tomb, the monument and the church building each offer a different insight into the local history associated with Anna Schäffer.

The pilgrimage center in Mindelstetten is located at Kirchplatz 2a and has a hall and toilets. Its address and the facilities listed provide practical reference points for planning your stay.

Guests of the parish can visit the Anna Schäffer birthplace and the Anna Schäffer exhibition. The birthplace is listed as closed from December 24 through January 1, inclusive. Check the latest visitor information before your visit, especially if you are planning your trip for this period.

Church in Hüttenhausen and Pilgrimage Cycle Route

In Hüttenhausen, within the municipality of Mindelstetten, the church is dated to around 1190 on the basis of two stylistically closely related depictions of Christ Pantocrator in the tympana. A Pantocrator image depicts Christ as ruler of the universe. Around 1700, the church underwent extensive renovation, during which the nave was extended more than five meters to the west. The date of around 1190 and the later alteration to the nave describe two different phases in the building's history.

From Hüttenhausen, the pilgrimage cycle route continues for another two kilometers along paved cycle paths to Saint Anna Schäffer in Mindelstetten. If you plan to take this route, check the latest route information before setting off. This will help you place the section described in your cycling trip without treating the stated distance as the total distance.

Mindelstetten Market with Parade and Show Jumping

The Mindelstetten Market takes place every year. On a Friday, the festival procession sets off in front of the church and continues to the festival hall on the market square. Celebrations take place there over four days, with clubs, musicians and other participants. The parade and festivities in the hall give the market a different character from the year-round pilgrimage and church connections.

The market also includes an equestrian tournament with show jumping events. It is organized by RuFV-Mindelstetten near the market square. If you want to plan your stay around the market, check the exact event dates before booking a hotel. This lets you plan your reason for traveling around the dates without assuming a specific market day.

Discover more travel destinations: Kinding, Beilngries, Altmannstein, Titting, Oberdolling, Dollnstein, Mörnsheim, Lenting

For the main travel overview: Eichstätt.