Wasserburg am Inn is one of Germany’s most picturesque towns. Located in Upper Bavaria’s Rosenheim district, Wasserburg is home to many medieval buildings that give the town a unique feel. Read on to find out more about some of its must-see attractions…
City wall and cemetery
The city wall (Stadtmauer) gives an insight into Wasserburg’s days as an important hub for the salt trade that was truly worthy of protecting. It acted as the main port for the regional capital, Munich, until the 17th century and was continually fought over by members of the Bavarian nobility.
To this day, you can see the final visible piece of the city wall running west from the imposing Red Tower (or Roter Turm), which is the last gate house of the fortifications. It marks the spot where an abutting wall once stood, running northwards to protect the town from attack at times when water levels in the River Inn were low.
Built into the city wall is an entrance gate to the cemetery (Altstadtfriedhof), which was first constructed in 1544, before being redeveloped in 1855 using marble epitaphs.
Wasserburg Castle
First mentioned as ‘Wazzerburch’ in a history book from 1085, the castle was extended from the mid-12th century to become the impressive and daunting structure that still stands today.
The main fortress building and outpost were well protected from would-be aggressors thanks to a deep ditch to the east and west, and cliffs on the north and south sides, while the entrance was guarded by a fortified gate, rendering it virtually impregnable.
Between 1531 and 1537, the castle was rebuilt into a splendid residence by Duke Wilhelm IV. Unfortunately, it’s now being turned into an old people’s home, meaning viewing is restricted, but it’s still well worth taking a trip to see this stunning old building up close.
The Bridge Gate
Known locally as the Brucktor, the Bridge Gate has officially been recorded as Wasserburg’s main entrance bridge since way back in 1374.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the important role it plays, the bridge has been rebuilt several times over the years, with wall murals visible from the riverside dating back to the late 16th century. They depict two armoured guards holding the Bavarian and Wasserburger standards, while Jupiter is also represented carrying a sceptre and a bolt of lightning.
Wasserburg Town Hall
The current town hall (or Rathaus) was built between 1457 and 1459 as a replacement for the original structure, which stood since 1252 (but was rebuilt in 1339 after being damaged by a devastating fire).
It played a major role in civic life, with the entrance hall acting as the corn exchange and a small first-floor auditorium used to house meetings of the local council. In the auditorium, you can still see murals that are unchanged since they were painted more than 400 years ago.
Large celebrations such as weddings, dances and festivals were often staged in the auditorium, which was burnt out in 1874 before being redeveloped between 1902 and 1904.
If you’re visiting Wasserburg, you can arrange a guided tour of the halls by booking an appointment.
You can easily view all of these attractions and more thanks to Wasserburg’s accessibility, with the town located only around an hour’s drive from Munich.
