Schlehdorf: Monastery History, Moorland and Cross-Country Skiing
Accommodation in Schlehdorf
Schlehdorf combines a long monastery history with the Loisach-Kochelsee Moor and various ways to explore the surrounding area. For winter planning, the Reuterbühl cross-country ski trail is a useful point of reference: whether it is groomed, and for which style, depends on snow conditions. Those interested in culture will find distinctive highlights in the churches and the village’s organ tradition. Before your trip, check the dates of seasonal offerings and the conditions for your planned activities.
The Kochelsee with Schlehdorf Abbey in the background.
Photo: Schlaier via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
A village centre with a long history
Schlehdorf looks back on more than 1,250 years of history. The first documented mention as “villa slehdorf” appears in the founding charter of Schlehdorf-Scharnitz Monastery, dated 29 June 763. This early reference gives the village a long historical perspective, but its history can also be read in the village’s present-day appearance.
The village centre resembles a Roman castrum in its distinctive layout. This structure dates back to the near-total destruction of the village in a devastating fire in 1846. The comparison to a castrum describes the layout of the village centre, not a Roman site. For a walking tour, it is worth taking in this unusual layout alongside the historic churches.
Churches and organ history
Guided tours of St. Tertulin Parish Church take place monthly. From July to October, monthly tours on the history of the monastery are also offered there. The programmes have different focuses, so check the dates before your visit. The church’s Baroque organ is also part of Schlehdorf’s musical history: completed in 1783, it is considered the only surviving tonal monument by Allgäu organ builder Franz Thoma of Aitrang.
Since its revival in autumn 2022, the Schlehdorf Organ Autumn, featuring organ concerts, has once again taken place regularly every year in September. If you would like to include a concert in your trip, check the dates against your plans. Another testament to the village’s history is the Holy Cross Church in the Schlehdorf cemetery. Built in the 17th century, it houses a Romanesque wooden crucifix dating from around 1200. The church is open seasonally; check visiting dates in advance.
Cycle routes, moorland and cross-country skiing
The easy Klosterrunde cycling tour is 23.54 kilometres long and starts and finishes at the Gasthof Klosterbräu in Schlehdorf. The route passes through the Loisach-Kochelsee Moos, a protected landscape whose rare flora and fauna help shape the character of the moorland. For a shorter outing or a different kind of ride, family-friendly cycling tours on flat paths through the moors are also available from Schlehdorf. These areas contain extensive habitats for rare animal and plant species.
In winter, the Reuterbühl trail is a designated option for cross-country skiing. The circular route is 5.2 kilometres long and is groomed for skating and/or the classic style, depending on snow conditions. Access points are on Unterauer Straße opposite the sports ground and on An der Breiten at the entrance to the village. Since grooming depends on current snow conditions, check conditions before setting out.
You can also experience the surrounding area from the water: a 90-minute round trip by motor vessel is available from the Schlehdorf landing stage on Lake Kochel. Before your trip, check whether the cruise is running on your chosen date.
KlosterGut and seasonal refreshments
KlosterGut Schlehdorf is a few minutes’ walk from Lake Kochel, set between mountains and moorland. The grounds below the historic monastery complex include an organic vegetable garden. KlosterGut manages a total of 65 hectares, which also include biotopes and a lake.
KlosterGut also has a farm shop and a café with outdoor seating. The farm café serves coffee and homemade cakes in the former sheepfold or outside, and operates seasonally. Outside the season, a limited selection of coffee and cakes is available in the farm shop, which also has outdoor seating. If you are planning to stop for refreshments, take these seasonal differences into account.
Discover more destinations: Wolfratshausen, Kochel Am See, Münsing, Bad Heilbrunn, Dietramszell, Lenggries, Egling, Eurasburg.
View the full travel overview: Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.
