Lechhanslradweg

Johann Baptist Baader (1717-1780) was a regionally renowned and important rococo and classicist painter. The son of a miller from Lechmühlen, he trained as a painter and fresco artist in Augsburg and Italy. As a guild-free artist, he worked for almost all the monasteries between Lech and Loisach, but his main client was the Polling Canons' Monastery. There he created two of his most important works, the Reliquary Chapel and the Library Hall. Baader's attachment to his homeland, as well as many a popular motif in his paintings, made him immortal among the local population as "Lechhansl".

Important note: Not all churches and chapels are accessible at all times.

The cycle trail named after Baader begins in Lechmühlen, the artist's birthplace and place of residence. Crossing the Lech, you reach Mundraching. This is followed by Stadl, whose parish church is home to three altarpieces from Baader's early work (1751). However, the cycle path leads to Vilgertshofen. Three ceiling frescoes by Lechhansl from 1770 have been preserved in the former pilgrims' inn.

The next stop is Issing, whose small parish church was completely decorated by Johann Baader in 1777. Two ceiling frescoes and the decorative paintings make the church a real jewel box. The cycle path now continues eastwards to the Ammersee. In Dießen, the old parish church in the district of St. Georgen contains an altarpiece with the "Adoration of the Shepherds" (1768). Further south, it passes just past Pähl.

The town of Weilheim is home to several works by Lechhansl: an impressive ceiling painting and the altarpiece in the small Angerkapelle (1761), several panel paintings in the town parish church and several smaller works in the "Baader Cabinet" of the town museum. The monastery village of Polling is also the next stop on the cycle route. The former Augustinian canon monastery was Baader's most important patron, and numerous works by Lechhansl can be found here, as well as Baader's main work at the time, the library hall.

The cycle path leads through mossy landscapes and the yew forest of Paterzell to Wessobrunn. The local monastery was also a busy client for Baader. 20 years after the Wessobrunn works, Baader painted the high altarpiece and the ceiling frescoes in the old church in Rott.

Between Reichling and Epfach, the Lech is crossed and the route now winds its way via Denklingen to Leeder. Via the idyllically situated Seestall, you finally return to Lechmühlen.