Markt Indersdorf: Monastery History, Trails and Markets
Accommodation in Markt Indersdorf
The Augustinian Canons’ monastery is a defining historic landmark in Markt Indersdorf: Count Palatine Otto IV of Wittelsbach founded it in 1120. The Augustinian Canons’ Museum dedicates a permanent exhibition to the order. The weekly market, recurring festivals and described walking and cycling routes add specific reasons to plan a visit to the town’s history.
Monastery History and Museum
The monastery’s first church was consecrated in 1128 by Archbishop Conrad of Salzburg in honour of the Mother of God and the Princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. After the great fire of 1249, the church and monastery complex were rebuilt. The church was constructed as a three-aisled Romanesque basilica without a transept, with three apses of almost equal height, a flat wooden ceiling and a north tower. Its foundations have survived beneath the present-day Rococo exterior. Under Provost Gelasius Morhardt (1748–1768), the church acquired this Rococo exterior; its building history thus combines a Romanesque core structure with later decoration.
The Augustinian Canons’ Museum is housed in the former sacristan’s house and the adjoining northern gate tower. Both buildings belonged to the monastery complex and are now protected historic monuments. The permanent exhibition covers the monastery’s varied uses after secularisation in the 18th century. Its displays include an orphanage run by the Salesian Sisters and the Sisters of Mercy, an educational institution under the Nazis, and an international UNRRA centre. In the immediate postwar period, the centre cared for foreign children and young people who were unaccompanied.
The history of the Wittelsbach dynasty is also linked to the monastery: seven Wittelsbach counts palatine are buried within the area enclosed by the present-day monastery walls. This makes Indersdorf one of the early Wittelsbach house monasteries, alongside Scheyern and Ensdorf. From Indersdorf, more than 24 monasteries in Bavaria and beyond were reformed as part of the Raudnitz-Indersdorf monastic reform, with the support of the Bavarian dukes.
The postwar period is also part of the town’s history. After the end of the Second World War, Markt Indersdorf became a place of refuge for more than 1,000 young survivors of Nazi persecution. They initially found a safe environment there before returning home or emigrating.
Weekly Market and Festivals
The Indersdorf weekly market takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Unterer Markt area on Freisinger Straße. As a “green market”, it offers food as well as produce from fruit and horticulture, agriculture and forestry, and raw natural products. For specific travel planning, it is advisable to check the published market hours again.
The “Advent at the Monastery” Christmas market takes place on the second weekend of Advent each year. The traditional market festival lasts two days and is held on the first weekend of August; its varied programme takes place in the market square. Check the dates for the year of your trip if you would like to plan your stay around one of the festivals.
Walking and Cycling Routes in the Glonn Valley
Markt Indersdorf lies in the varied, hilly landscape of the Glonn Valley. Numerous walking and cycling routes run through the valley and the surrounding hills. Specific route descriptions give different distances and starting points: the 12-kilometre Marterl cycling route starts and ends at the Volksfestplatz fairground. A local flyer from June 2021 names Indersdorf station as the starting and ending point for the 8.5-kilometre “Views of Albersbach & Westerholzhausen” walking route. A local flyer from June 2021 describes a 9.5-kilometre section of the Oxenweg, which runs via Langenpettenbach to Westerholzhausen and starts and ends at the market square in Indersdorf.
These three routes can be distinguished by their length and starting points. The route descriptions come from a local flyer from June 2021; check conditions before setting out on the Marterl cycling route. The 7-Klöster-Weg also offers a possible starting point in Markt Indersdorf: the eastern loop can begin here, where the route’s first monastery is located. The entire route is marked with a church logo and features information panels about its history.
Outdoor Swimming Pool in the Municipality
Ainhofen outdoor swimming pool is located in the municipality. It has two heated pools: the swimming pool has a constant water temperature of around 23°C, and the children’s pool around 26°C. As the municipality publishes seasonal information about the pool, check the latest operating details before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Niederroth, Dachau, Bergkirchen, Schwabhausen, Hebertshausen.
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