Because of the Corona crisis, people are likely to avoid long trips abroad and vacation at home during the summer holidays. That is why we offer many excursion tips on foot or by bike in the “Oberland tours” series - even beyond the district boundaries. Today: Enjoy cycling in the Pupplinger Au.
Wolfratshausen / Puppling - The Pupplinger Au, between Munich and Wolfratshausen, is equally known and popular with racing cyclists and inline skaters. While there is a lot going on on the weekends on the paved paths through the shady floodplain forest, during the week you are almost alone on an evening tour. Those who take some time for this special natural section in the Isar Valley will discover much more than 23 kilometers of pedaling for after-work sports.
Unique mixed forest
The starting point is the Aujäger inn, coming from Wolfratshausen on the left hand side immediately after the Isar bridge. There is a large parking lot there. Unload the bike and off you go on the paved road past the inn. At the first crossroads, follow the sign "Direction Aumühle" for four kilometers. You can enjoy yourself in the wonderful shade of the unique mixed forest. Tall pines, alder trees, spruces and willows line the narrow, winding lane (attention, cars may also be used).
The Pupplinger Au is one of the most impressive river landscapes in Central Europe, despite human intervention and the resulting restricted river dynamics. Since the cultivation of this floodplain was largely discontinued in the 1960s, species such as reed pipe grass have prevailed, cover the entire forest floor and thus suffocate the young pine shoots and flower species such as the orchids or the stemless gentian. In order to sustainably preserve the natural balance and biodiversity in this special ecological landscape, a unique pasture project was started in 2000. With luck, the visitor will hear cowbells ringing there, even though there are no pastures.
Pasture project with Murnau-Werdenfelser cattle
Murnau-Werdenfelser cattle are frugal, robust and can work hard. They were used as draft animals in the past. However, with the introduction of agricultural machinery, they became worthless to farmers. As part of this nature project, six suckler cows and their calves were used to bite pasture in the Pupplinger Au. Agricultural machines are not suitable for the rough terrain. Therefore, this pasture project aims to preserve nature on the one hand, and to protect this extremely endangered, native breed of cattle from extinction on the other. The project sponsor is the Isartalverein Munich.
This tour is less about the sporty aspect and more about enjoyment. You can stop off after the first four kilometers. The Gasthaus Aumühle attracts with a stay in the cozy garden, and right next door is the trout farm Aumühle. The fish farm was built in 1923. The source streams for the 42 natural ponds arise in the Pupplinger Au. In the farm's village shop, there are ready-to-eat char and trout to take away.
At the sawmill there is a smell of freshly cut wood
Another time maybe, because we still have a long way to go. We stay on the same road that now leads through the village of Aumühle, past the large sawmill with the scent of freshly cut wood, towards Dürnstein. The Isar Canal can be seen for a short time behind the green dam. It doesn't take long, however, and we drive directly along the leisurely flowing water. Normally on the weekends the excursion rafts are out with hearty brass music. Now in Corona times it is unusually quiet, and the nature along the Isar comes into its own as it has not been for a long time. A look towards the south to the wooden bridge in the backlight makes it clear how indescribably beautiful the Isar valley is.
Pure idyll: the Ickinger reservoir invites you to linger and swim.
© Andrea Weber
A little later our little road joins Klosterstraße to Dingharting. We turn left and shortly afterwards, shortly before the canal bridge, we turn back onto the bike path, in the direction of Munich / Mühltal. It is now always along the banks of the canal with its almost meditative silence and velvety water surface, which reflects the Isar high bank, until after 6.5 kilometers we reach the Gasthaus Mühle and the weir bridge with the 345 meter long raft slide. It is the highlight of all raft trips: the passengers, mostly dressed in traditional costume, cheer every time the vehicle made of tree trunks zips down at great speed. For us there is time for a little rest with coffee and cake in the cool garden of the Gasthaus Mühle.
Architectural gem
On the way back we take the gravel path along the top of the canal embankment. To reach it, you have to cycle left from the Gasthaus Mühle over the bridge and through the passage of the Mühltal power station. The two glass stars on pillars next to the passageway look impressive. Many are probably not even aware that there is an architectural gem here. The power station building was built in 1924 in the classicism style and is a listed building. The electrical output of the so-called run-of-river power plant is 11.2 megawatts.
We follow the high bank on the narrow gravel path around 2.7 kilometers back to the canal bridge. Here we can opt for a detour of about two kilometers, past the Bruckenfischer inn, to the Schäftlarn monastery. A walk through the monastery garden, a souvenir from the monastery shop - and then a cool beer in the monastery beer garden convince us.
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Along with Weltenburg and Metten, the Schäftlarn monastery is one of the original Bavarian monasteries. The Benedictines founded it in 762. The mission of the friars was to “cultivate land and souls and educate the people in the area” - it says on a sign at the parking lot. The way back is the same way to the bridge fisherman and at the top of the canal bridge again on the high bank path to the south.
Orphaned: The raft slide at Gasthaus Mühle - unfortunately unused in Corona times.
© Andrea Weber
The stomach is full, the thirst is quenched. With all the cycling without noticeable vertical meters and extensive breaks, we are convinced: We need exercise to get rid of the calories we have fed in on this pleasure tour. Hidden behind the thicket, on the right hand side of our path, the surface of the Ickingen reservoir glistens through. This is a popular swimming pond for the locals on hot summer days. But be careful: naturism is allowed here. Small pebble beaches invite you to linger. So out of your cycling shorts and in - or not - in your swimming trunks and into the cool water.
A few swimming strokes later, we continue the last few kilometers of our way back. Over the Ickinger weir, we turn right onto the Isar cycle path through the Pupplinger Au forest. With a little luck we will hear the cowbells of the people of Murnau-Werdenfels ringing once again, who can move freely in a huge area here. Maybe we can even see them. But after a total of 23 kilometers and an estimated 150 meters of altitude difference, a fresh measure of cyclists will definitely be waiting for us sports enthusiasts in the cool beer garden at Gasthaus Aujäger.
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