There was a big rush at Leonhardifahrt in Benediktbeuern on Sunday.
Both the visitors and the police draw a positive conclusion.
Benediktbeuern -
After the locally encountered haze of fog and some frost on the meadows had evaporated, it was a sunny late autumn day with pleasant temperatures - a picture perfect day for the Benediktbeurer Leonhardifahrt, which took place again yesterday after a two-year Corona break.
At nine o'clock in the morning, the pilgrimage procession set off from Dorfstraße and approached its destination, the monastery, via Bahnhofsstraße.
Due to construction work on the monastery, the route was different than usual this time.
We walked along Don-Bosco-Strasse past the monastery car park and, after walking around the cafeteria belonging to the university, back along the old road along the north side of the monastery complex.
The head of the train with the carriages for the clergy and guests of honor had their stand at the parking lot exit, the other teams and riders positioned themselves accordingly behind on and, if possible, next to the road.
The day began early for the carters and carriage occupants, because getting people and animals ready for the festivities takes time and patience.
Leonhardi ride Benediktbeuern: This year the route is different than usual
But there was also no shortage of spectators, although the Leonhardi rides were also held in Murnau and Kreuth on the same day and some interested parties might have wanted to experience Saint Leonhard's day of honor there.
The designated parking spaces on Benediktbeuern's access roads were soon occupied.
The service, which the basilica choir helped organize, was also festive, preceded by a prayer by Pastor Father Heiner Heim outside at the Leonhardi column, which was also decorated.
A long procession of altar boys then led the clergy into the well-filled church.
"We are pleased that we can celebrate Leonhardstag again this year as we are used to," said Heim, welcoming the visitors.
Despite the beautiful atmosphere, there is a shadow over the festival, "which we cannot and do not want to displace." There are still the effects of the corona pandemic and the Ukraine war, which brings with it restrictions and increases in prices in everyday life.
"This war was started out of sheer striving for power." In such a situation, a pilgrimage is a good opportunity for people to take their concerns to God and to ask the saints for intercession.
The saints venerated by the faithful gave the gospels “a face by their actions and works.
Giving a face to the gospels and thus to faith is an ongoing task for all of us.
It's in how we meet each other, how we shape togetherness," said the pastor.
Saint Leonhard is known for his commitment to prisoners and as the patron saint of farmers and animals.
"We want to ask him today for his intercession for peace."
Benediktbeuern: About 7000 visitors take part in the pilgrimage
A special moment in the service was the "Our Father" recited in Cimbrian - as on almost every Leonhardi trip, a group of Cimbrian visitors from Trentino, whose ancestors came from Benediktbeurer Klosterland around 1000 years ago, were guests in the Loisachtal.
The resemblance of the old language, spoken only by a few Cimbri, to the local language could clearly be heard.
The mass was transmitted to the sunny courtyard of the monastery via loudspeaker system.
However, there was a greater rush outside the monastery walls with the magnificently and elaborately decorated wagons and their occupants, who, depending on their origin, wore their traditional local costumes.
Part of it is that the women – whether young or a bit older – get a schnapps and specially baked Leonhards-Platzerl.
The beautiful weather ensured a good mood among all those involved, although pilgrims and regular visitors agreed that the carriages inside the monastery courtyard had a special and even more dignified character.
Positive record of the police
Nevertheless, Elisabeth and Hansjörg Heim from Swabia, who experienced the Benediktbeur festival for the first time, liked it a lot: "A nice service and a very nice pilgrimage procession, that's impressive," said the two.
After returning to the village square, the procession broke up and the Goaßlschnalzer could now demonstrate their skills.
And the Cimbrian "Trombinis" later underlined the extraordinary event with their cannon shots.
The summary of the police was also absolutely positive.
“We are assuming around 7,000 spectators.
Everything went wonderfully and without accidents," said Steffen Wiedemann, head of the Kochl department, with satisfaction.
"The Leonhardi ride was a really pleasant event after the pandemic break."
(Rosi Bauer)
You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.