Rimbach Chapel Path (Ri09)

Panoramic circular hiking trail in the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park, Bavaria. Rimbach is considered an ancient settlement. It is said to have originated as part of the missionary activities of the Chammünster monastery and is one of those "-bach" places that are assigned a name from the 9th century. The church patronage of St Michael the Archangel also suggests that it is very old. According to legend, the church was planned to be built on the nearby Aignhof farm. However, the timber was brought by angels to a hill on which a pagan sacrificial site was located. The first church fell victim to the Hussite invasion. The next one (built in 1438) sank in the Thirty Years' War. According to the date in the chancel arch, the current old church building was completed in 1719. Several statues of saints in the parish church still symbolise the bond between the people and their faith. Next to the parish church is the Chapel of the Souls (built in 1735). It contains an image of the Sorrowful Mother of God, which used to be the destination of pilgrimages. The ceiling painting shows the poor souls in purgatory, among them the face of a teacher who was on duty at the time. If you now want to leave the Kirchberg and walk past the war memorial in the direction of the "Bayerischer Hof" hotel, you will reach the pedestrian path on the right after the hotel car park. Here you will find the Gsellhofer family memorial. The family erected a cross and memorial plaques in memory of their deceased relatives. Just a short distance further on, turn right into Falkenweg and shortly afterwards right again into Finkenweg. After approx. 100 metres and the end of the asphalt road, there is a so-called "Marterl" on the left behind a group of trees and bushes. A "Marterl" can be a cross or a memorial plaque and is intended to commemorate the person who had a fatal accident at this spot; in this case Georg Pielmeier, who died here. The farmer was sowing seeds in the field with a team of oxen and was fatally injured by the animals when they panicked. Back on the footpath along the main road, you come to a chapel with memorial stones next to it. The chapel was built by the Mühlbauer family. On the memorial stone are the names of those who died in accidents on the Aubergstraße that passes by. Opposite, on the other side of the road, at the turn-off to Thenried, there is a wooden crucifix with a beautifully carved Christ. From here, turn left into Wiedenhofstraße, on the right-hand side of which is a large group of death boards. These death boards originated in earlier times, when there were no mortuaries and the deceased were laid out at home. This was done on a board that the carpenter later made, painted and added the personal details and a pious saying. The relatives then placed it next to wayside crosses or chapels, where these death boards remind passers-by to remember in silence. Originally, death boards were placed here for the deceased from the neighbouring farm. To ensure that this tradition is not forgotten, the local traditional costume association has taken over this group of death boards. It erects new death boards for deceased members and holds an annual commemoration of the dead. In earlier times, a Way of the Cross led from here to the forest hill on which three crosses stood. This is why it is still referred to as Calvary today. Further along Wiedenhofstraße, past two ponds, there is a small chapel on the private property of the Silberbauer family (therefore unfortunately not open to the public). This was built in 1983. By building this chapel, the builder expressed his gratitude for God's help in family hardship and for a good return home from the war. After about 200 metres, there is a cross on the edge of the road. These crucifixes bear witness to the deep religiousness of the people. They are intended to remind passers-by of our Creator. Until modern times, it was customary to cross oneself or pause briefly when passing one of these crosses. Now walk back about 100 metres until you can turn left into a country lane, along the edge of the forest you reach the forest on the left. If you now follow the signpost to the forest chapel on the left, you will reach the "Wooden Chapel". It was built by the Hofmann family from Thürnhofen. The old chapel that stood on this site dates back to 1822. The votive picture in the chapel shows a herd of cattle being protected by the Mother of God and suggests that the chapel was built in thanksgiving for a past cattle plague. There are several benches by the wooden chapel that invite you to linger and pray in silence. Highlights of the hike: - Wooden chapel - Calvary - Beautiful views - death boards - Wooden chapel