Kircherlkirchweih Rinchnach

A Pilgrimage with Over 250 Years of Tradition

The Kircherlkirchweih is one of the oldest and most visited traditions of popular piety in the monastic village of Rinchnach in the Bavarian Forest. The occasion is the consecration anniversary of the Frauenbrünnl Chapel, built in 1766 – and popularly known as Gunther-Kircherl because, according to local legend, Saint Gunther is said to have had a hermitage here.

The Procession from Gehmannsberg

On Sunday morning, September 13, 2026, the procession forms in Gehmannsberg (a district of Rinchnach) around 9:30 AM. The local associations – the traditional costume society, the marksmen's club, the music band, the fire department – and the pilgrims walk about 2 kilometers through the forest to the Frauenbrünnl Chapel. The path leads through typical Bavarian Forest scenery with meadows, woods, and springs.

The Chapel and Its History

The Frauenbrünnl Chapel was built in 1766 and is a small Baroque pilgrimage chapel. It was almost demolished after secularization – local farmers saved it by purchasing it for 136 guilders, which is considered the founding act of the chapel community to this day. A support association finances the ongoing restoration; around €300,000 has been invested in its preservation in recent years.

The Festival Day

An open-air service takes place at the chapel – outdoors in good weather, or in the covered forecourt if it rains. After the service, festival guests walk back to Gehmannsberg, where the actual Kircherlkirchweih festival begins in the festival tent of the Guntherschützen Gehmannsberg. Catering with Bavarian delicacies, beer from regional breweries, and live music are part of the event.

Rinchnach — An Old Monastic Village in the Bavarian Forest

Rinchnach, in the Regen district, was founded as a Benedictine monastery cell in the 11th century and is considered one of the oldest cultural roots of the Bavarian Forest. The monastery church of St. Johannes, with its Baroque furnishings, is one of the region's outstanding architectural monuments. The Frauenbrünnl Chapel and the Kircherlkirchweih are part of this long tradition of religious popular piety, which continues to be actively maintained in the region.