St. Hermann Kirwa Bischofsmais

Pilgrimage Site St. Hermann — Oldest in the Bavarian Forest

The St. Hermann pilgrimage church is located on the slope of the Brotjacklriegel in the municipality of Bischofsmais in the Lower Bavarian district of Regen, right in the heart of the Bavarian Forest. The history of the place dates back to 1322/1323, when the hermit Hermann from Heidelberg built a hermitage in honor of Saint Hermann Joseph — the oldest documented pilgrimage site in the Bavarian Forest. In the Middle Ages, the site attracted pilgrims from all over eastern Bavaria, and to this day, the spring of Saint Hermann ("Hermann-Brunnen") is a destination for the faithful who take the water for healing eye and skin ailments.

Hirmonkirwa — Two Dates, One Tradition

The two church consecration days have been documented since 1660: St. Lawrence's Day on August 10 and St. Bartholomew's Day on August 24. In the Bavarian Forest dialect, the festival days are called "Hirmonkirwa". On both days, foot pilgrims from the Windberg region traditionally arrive the evening before for the "Vorkirchweih" (pre-Kirwa), receive sacraments, and drink or use the water from the Hermann spring. This living tradition, passed down unchanged for centuries, has made the pilgrimage site a symbol of Bavarian popular piety.

Services, Market, and Alpine Delicacies

On both church consecration days, services begin at 7:30 AM, followed by masses at 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. On St. Lawrence's Day (August 10), a devotion is also held at 2:00 PM. A bustling market with stalls from regional providers and producers develops around the pilgrimage church from early morning: Bavarian delicacies, hearty snacks, and traditional brass band music. "Fun for young and old" is the motto — a Volksfest tradition that inextricably links the spiritual and secular dimensions of the Kirwa.

St. Hermann Ride in September

In addition to the two August Kirwa days, the St. Hermann Ride takes place annually on the first Sunday in September — a service in the pilgrimage church starting at 9:30 AM, followed by a festive procession through Bischofsmais and a blessing of the horses at the Pledl festival hall. This extends the pilgrimage season over several weeks in late summer and represents one of the most significant traditional events in the Bavarian Forest. The event is organized by the local parish and the municipality of Bischofsmais in cooperation with the ARBERLAND Tourist Information.