Geretsried: City History, Art and Nature

Historic Trails through Geretsried and Gelting

The northern History Trail in Geretsried is a 10-kilometre circular route with 27 stops. It covers the armaments industry and reconstruction after 1945. At each stop, pictures, plans and texts provide information about the location. The individual sites and their descriptions are therefore integral to the route.

The Gelting History Trail is 14 kilometres long and includes 19 stops. It starts at the village square at Wolfratshauser Straße 2 in Gelting, a district of Geretsried. The two routes offer different options: the northern circular route is 10 kilometres long with 27 stops, while the longer Gelting trail is 14 kilometres long with 19 stops.

The Way of St James cycling pilgrimage route is a different kind of route and has passed through Geretsried since March 2025. Karl-Lederer-Platz and St Peter’s Church are stops on the Passau–Lindau pilgrimage route. This distinguishes the historic trails from the cycling pilgrimage route in terms of their different themes and formats.

Museum, City Gallery and Remembrance

The Geretsried City Museum covers the horrors of the National Socialist regime, the DAG (Dynamit Aktiengesellschaft) and DSC (Deutsche Sprengchemie) armaments factories, flight and expulsion, and the former homes of those expelled. It also traces the area’s development from the Geretsried estate to the establishment of the municipality in 1950. The armaments industry is thus a theme both at the museum and on the northern History Trail; the trail also explores reconstruction after 1945.

During the “Bunkers in the Forest” tour, the history and operations of the Deutsche Sprengchemie plant are explained using the ruins. Blown-up bunker buildings and underground passages form part of the historic site in southern Geretsried. For safety reasons, the passages themselves are not accessible; they are explained during the tour. Check with the provider to see whether a tour date is available.

The City Gallery on Elbestraße offers around 160 square metres of space for art exhibitions, openings and cultural events. It continues to serve as an exhibition venue, while the exhibitions change. If you want to see a particular exhibition, check the current programme in advance.

Architectural History in Gelting and Geretsried

The Baroque Church of St Benedict in Gelting was built from 1631 to 1649. An earlier church in Gelting is documented as early as 1315. Geretsried is also home to St Nicholas Chapel, an octagonal building with a tufa dome dating from the 18th century. These two buildings provide distinct, clearly identifiable points of reference for local history and architecture.

The annual Open Monument Day offers a chance to learn about traditional crafts: the historic blacksmith and wagon workshop in Gelting opens every year on the second Sunday in September. A master blacksmith demonstrates working with fire and iron. If this date is important for your plans, check the latest event information.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Two sections of the Babenstubener Moorlands Natura 2000 site lie in the southern part of the Geretsried municipal area. This complex of moorland extends across municipal areas belonging to Geretsried, Eurasburg and Königsdorf. It is characteristic of the pre-Alpine moraine landscape and particularly valuable. The site therefore crosses municipal boundaries, with both sections located in southern Geretsried.

The city forest has an outdoor fitness trail for exercise. It is free and open to the public at all times. Alongside the historic trails, it offers another way to spend time in Geretsried, while the moorlands provide a distinct natural focus.

Discover more destinations: Icking, Dietramszell, Bad Heilbrunn, Münsing, Wolfratshausen, Eurasburg, Bad Tölz, Egling.

Go to the regional travel overview: Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.