Leonhardiritt Inchenhofen

Bavaria's Oldest Leonhardiritt

When the bells of the Pilgrimage Church of St. Leonhard in Inchenhofen ring on the first Sunday after St. Leonhard's Day (November 6th), one of Bavaria's most important traditional festivals begins: the Leonhardiritt Inchenhofen. The ride was introduced as early as 1459 by the Fürstenfeld Cistercian abbot Paul Herzmann, making it the oldest Leonhardiritt in Bavaria. Inchenhofen, a market town in the Aichach-Friedberg district (Swabia/Wittelsbacher Land, Bavaria), was one of Europe's most important pilgrimage sites to St. Leonhard in the late Middle Ages.

Pontifical Mass and Festive Sermon

The liturgical prelude on the festival Sunday is the Pontifical Mass at 9:30 AM in the Pilgrimage Church of St. Leonhard. The late Gothic hall church, completed between 1450 and 1457, is the center of a pilgrimage tradition documented since the 13th century. A bishop or vicar general of the Diocese of Augsburg celebrates the High Mass, often accompanied by the Inchenhofen church choir and orchestra. On the eve of the festival, there is a Holy Mass followed by a candlelight procession to the cemetery – a custom that ushers in the festive days and connects the remembrance of the deceased with the Leonhardi pilgrimage.

The Horse Procession Through the Market Town

In the early afternoon, the Leonhardiritt begins its procession. Approximately 200 festively decorated horses, several music bands, and traditional costume groups from the Wittelsbacher Land circle the market square three times in a fixed order through Inchenhofen. The highlight is the blessing of the horses, bestowed by the festival celebrant in front of the pilgrimage church. With historical floats depicting scenes from the life of St. Leonhard and living pictures from rural tradition, the Inchenhofen ride is one of the most visually rich in Bavaria. Afterwards, a festive devotion and a church tour conclude the official program.

St. Leonhard – Patron Saint of Farmers and Animals

Saint Leonhard of Limoges (died around 559) was revered primarily in the Southern German-Bavarian region as the patron saint of livestock, farmers, and prisoners. In times of need – during cattle plagues, famines, wars – pilgrims turned to him. The Inchenhofen pilgrimage was one of the most significant in Europe in the Middle Ages; votive tablets, iron chains, and offerings in the church still bear witness to this tradition today. The Brotherhood of St. Leonhard, based in Inchenhofen, keeps this heritage alive.

Volksfest (Folk Festival) Around the Pilgrimage

The traditional market with stalls, showmen, sausage stands, and regional specialties of Upper Bavarian and Swabian cuisine extends around the ride. The inns of Inchenhofen are typically fully occupied on this Sunday; reservations are strongly recommended. Thousands of guests from the Wittelsbacher Land, the greater Augsburg area, Munich, and beyond travel each year to experience this combination of lived piety, equestrian culture, and Bavarian tradition.