Dietramszeller Leonhardifahrt 'Lehards'

The oldest Leonhardifahrt in Upper Bavaria?

The 'Lehards' in Dietramszell is considered one of the oldest documented Leonhardifahrten in Upper Bavaria. The first written evidence dates back to the years 1578-1591. Today's tradition is based on a vow made in 1685: While a horse plague was raging in the region, the Augustinian canon provost Marcellinus Obermayr vowed to build a chapel in honour of Saint Leonard if the monastery's horses were spared. They were spared, the chapel was built, and since then, the Leonhardifahrt to the Leonhardikirche has been celebrated annually on the third Saturday in July.

Saint Leonard — Patron of Horses and Farmers

Saint Leonard of Limoges (France, 6th century) is one of the most important folk saints in Upper Bavaria. He is considered the patron saint of horses, farmers, prisoners, miners, and the sick. His feast day is November 6. In Upper Bavaria, however, he is also celebrated on various 'Leonhardi' dates with horse processions — farmers bring their horses around the Leonhardikirche church three times, have them blessed, and pray for protection and health. The most important Leonhardifahrten in Upper Bavaria are Bad Tölz (Sunday after November 6), Tegernsee, Schliersee, Bad Feilnbach, and Dietramszell — the latter in July (instead of November), as a summer Leonhardi.

Program

• Saturday morning: Pilgrimages from Linden, Lochen, Föggenbeuern, Thankirchen, and Schönegg head to St. Leonhard in the morning
• 9:00 AM: Festive church service in the Leonhardikirche
• 1:00 PM: Festive Leonhardifahrt starts from Dietramszell (Klosterhof) towards St. Leonhard
• Approx. 1:30 PM: Triple procession around the church by riders, decorated wagons, and festival parade
• Afterwards: Blessing of the horses — blessing of the horses, riders, and the entire community
• Afternoon and Evening: Festival tent with brass band music, food and drink stalls, plus a fair with carousels, rides, market stalls

Dietramszell and its Church

Dietramszell (around 5,500 inhabitants) is a parish village in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, about 35 km south of Munich in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps. The town is primarily known for the former Augustinian Canons' Monastery of Dietramszell with its baroque monastery church of St. Maria (1729-1741). The Leonhardikirche itself is located slightly outside the village, on the Leonhardiberg — the horse processions around this smaller church are a scene from another era, which has become rare in this form.

Who should go

Anyone who wants to experience authentic, lively Upper Bavarian customs — without tourist staging, without admission fees, with real farmers, real horses, and real faith — will find it in Dietramszell on the third weekend in July. Wearing traditional costume is welcome, but not mandatory. This is one of the few truly organic Leonhardifahrten in Upper Bavaria, celebrated not primarily for tourists, but for themselves.