The best traffic-free bike rides around Neukirchen-Balbini

There are one or two works of art to discover around the Hammersee. In addition, the Jacob brewery is also located on the lake.

Pilgrimage Church of St. Leonhard On the road from Seebarn to Hillstett lies the hamlet of St. Leonhard with the filial and pilgrimage church to St. Leonhard. The church is said to have been founded by Count Palatine Johann in gratitude for the victory won in the Battle of Hiltersried against the Hussites in 1433. The flat-roofed church has a recessed late Gothic choir with a closure in three octagonal sides. A domed bell tower sits on the church. Above the church entrance, in a niche, is the patron saint of the church, St. Leonhard, depicted with a cow at his feet. The interior of the church shows us a late Gothic chancel and a simple nave from the 18th century. The high altar, with two twisted columns on the right and left, is flanked on the left by St. Florian and on the right by St. James. On the sides, scrollwork-like carved decoration. The altarpiece shows St. Leonhard with an abbot's staff. In front of him is an angel holding a chain, and below him, the Hussite conqueror and founder of the church, Count Palatine Johann, also depicted with a chain. Above this is a coat of arms cartouche of unknown origin and a bishop's mitre with a staff. In the upper part is the Holy Trinity, with an angel on each side of the cornice. On the left side altar, a picture of St. Wendelin can be seen. On the right side altar stands a simple wooden sculpture of the Madonna. It is particularly venerated by the population. On the left wall are three oil paintings on wood. Depicted here from left to right are St. John the Evangelist, the Apostle of the Gentiles, St. Paul, and the Bishop of Milan and Church Father, St. Ambrose. On the right side of the nave, the picture cycle continues with St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church and Bishop of Hippo, St. Jerome, the translator of the Vulgate Bible, and St. Luke the Evangelist. Below these pictures is a Way of the Cross from the 18th century. The painters of the Way of the Cross and the valuable picture panels are unknown. St. Leonhard was formerly a very well-attended place of pilgrimage. Even before the votive pictures, small votive offerings in the form of iron animal signs were made, some of which are still preserved. Source: Church guide of the Deanery of Neunburg vorm Wald

The marking of the hiking trails is a bit confusing here. The understandable information board is located north of the St 2152 behind the sign Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald.

St. Martin's Parish Church The history of the parish dates back to the Middle Ages. The first record of such a church is from 1297, but a church certainly existed in Untertraubenbach around the year 1000. This former parish church was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War and subsequently rebuilt on the site of the also-destroyed castle. According to the date inscribed on the west gate, this was in 1719. On Maundy Thursday in 1813, a fire broke out, destroying most of the central and outer parts of the village, including the parish church. Reconstruction began just one year later. Until the 20th century, St. Martin's Parish experienced the turbulent events of history, even suffering the effects of World War II. Renovations were necessary time and again, the most recent taking place in 2002/2003. In 2009, the bell tower was expanded to include two additional bells. Upon entering the church, one is struck by its deliberate simplicity. A simple nave with an adjoining chancel is only enlivened by wall piers, giving the interior an almost medieval character. A barrel vault spans the entire nave. At the center of the chancel stands the high altar, framed by two altar guardians, St. Florian and St. Sebastian. This is a neo-Baroque work from around 1900. At the center is a festively framed painting of Mary, which was brought to Untertraubenbach from the pilgrimage chapel of Streicherröhren in 1718, as it was no longer considered safe there. It is a beautiful copy of the Passau Maria-Hilf painting, which is based on the original by Lucas Cranach. The patron saint of the church, St. Martin, is depicted in the altarpiece. On both sides of the sanctuary are beautifully carved choir stalls, adorned with charming ornamental carvings. Inside the nave, the wooden pulpit is a striking feature. It is a simple piece of woodwork depicting the four Evangelists and the Good Shepherd. The stained-glass windows show St. Michael and John the Baptist on the left and St. Barbara and Thérèse of Lisieux on the right. Source: Excerpts from the church guide for St. Martin's Parish Church in Untertraubenbach

You have to take extra time for that.

It is the only one of the original four city gates still standing. It was originally called the Castle Gate, as the Cham Castle stood on the site of the adjacent old building. However, after it lost its former function, an electoral brewery for wheat beer was established here in 1642. Thus, the Castle Gate became popularly known as the "Beer Gate." Its squat shape with its massive round towers and covered pointed arch is reflected in the coat of arms of the city of Cham as a landmark.

Worth seeing monastery with restaurant

Nice section - could be steeper 🤪😂