Pfaffenhofen a.d.Ilm – City History and Culture

For planning your hotel stay and trip to Pfaffenhofen a.d.Ilm, the city’s history, guided tours and the folk festival in September offer a range of options. A guided walking tour connects several historical sites; churches, a museum and a former telecommunications bunker also provide insights into different aspects of the town. If you would like to plan your trip around a tour or the folk festival, check the current dates in advance.

Walking Tour and Time at the Main Square

The Pfaffenhofen Tour is a guided historical walking tour with around 15 stops. It leads from the town hall past the former town wall and St. John the Baptist Parish Church to the Marian Column on the main square. This gives you the opportunity to get to know several of the sites mentioned on a single tour; the approximate number of stops also gives you an idea of the tour’s scope.

The three-aisled St. John the Baptist Parish Church was rebuilt in the Late Gothic style after the great town fire of 1388 and completed in 1409. The lower part of the main square is partly pedestrianised. Park benches as well as water and light installations invite you to linger there. A visit can therefore appeal to different interests, combining historical architecture with time spent in a public space.

Churches, Town Tower and Museum

The Flaschlturm, also known as the Stadtturm am Platzl, is a remnant of Pfaffenhofen’s former town fortifications. The Holy Spirit Hospital Church was built between 1716 and 1719 as the church of the former Franciscan monastery; its architect is unknown. It therefore dates from considerably later than the completion of the Late Gothic parish church. The two buildings offer different historical perspectives, without requiring you to follow a particular route.

The Joseph Maria Lutz Museum displays manuscripts, photographs and awards, as well as correspondence with writers such as Thomas Mann and Stefan Zweig. Other exhibits relate to the life and work of the writer Joseph Maria Lutz. If you are interested in literature and personal accounts of people’s lives, the collection offers a different perspective on the town’s history from its buildings and historical walking tour.

Bunker Tour and Folk Festival

The bunker tour takes you through the rooms and winding corridors of the underground telecommunications bunker, which covers more than 1,400 square metres. Advance booking is required for the bunker tour; for safety reasons, the number of participants is limited to 18. Check the current tour dates in advance and book in good time. The limited group size and advance booking requirement are important points to consider when planning this activity.

The Pfaffenhofen Folk Festival takes place in September, begins on the first Friday of the month and lasts for twelve days. It features three festival tents, a varied culinary offering with regional specialities, and modern and nostalgic fairground rides. Individual attractions may change. So check the event dates for your travel year and plan around the specific festival days.

More to Explore in the Wider Pfaffenhofen An Der Ilm Destination

In the wider Pfaffenhofen An Der Ilm destination, the southern part of the district is characterised by Tertiary hill country with gentle elevations and valleys. The district has well-signposted cycling routes through river valleys, as well as themed tours focused on asparagus and hops. In many communities, themed hiking trails and walking paths invite you to spend time in nature. These regional options complement the town’s historical attractions, but relate to the district rather than Pfaffenhofen a.d.Ilm alone.

In Wolnzach, the German Hop Museum traces more than 1,000 years of hop-growing history. It displays old hop weighing tickets and introduces visitors to the art of brewing beer. The district also offers guided tours through historic streets, hop farm tours and herb tours. Two varied 18-hole golf courses round out the regional offering; check their availability before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Scheyern, Wolnzach, Pörnbach, Schweitenkirchen, Münchsmünster, Gerolsbach, Manching, Geisenfeld.

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