Winterwandern in Wilparting

The Wilparting pilgrimage church is a reminder of early Christianity in Bavaria, in particular the Irish wandering bishop Marinus and Anianus. Both lived in this area as hermits for 40 years. Marinus even lived in a cave. He was murdered by Slavic invaders. Anianus died of natural causes in his hermitage on the same day. 50 years later, both bones were recovered and the first church was founded on the "Ursenberg" (Irschenberg; ursus = bear). Since then, Wilparting has celebrated "Mareis Day", the anniversary of the missionaries' death, every year on November 15.