Quick answer
The Benediktbeuern Leonhardifahrt is a free horse-pilgrimage procession held the Sunday nearest November 6 — November 8 in 2026 — ending with a 10 a.m. blessing Mass in the courtyard of Kloster Benediktbeuern, one of Bavaria's oldest monasteries.
- Best for
- History and heritage travelers — the monastery courtyard gives this Leonhardifahrt a distinctive architectural backdrop.
- Booking urgency
- No booking needed — free, open-access viewing.
Roughly 230 horses and 49 wagons process past Bavaria's oldest monastery for a Leonhardi blessing in the abbey courtyard.
This Leonhardi procession forms up near Schwimmbadstraße and winds through the village before the wagons and riders are blessed at the sports field beside Kloster Benediktbeuern, one of Bavaria's oldest monastery complexes. A festival service in the monastery courtyard at 10am precedes the blessing, making it a good combined stop with a visit to the baroque abbey church.
The full story
History
Held annually on the Sunday nearest November 6, honoring St. Leonhard with a procession that ends in the courtyard of Kloster Benediktbeuern — among Bavaria's oldest monastery complexes. No confirmed founding year for the procession itself.
Eat & Drink Nearby
- Local specialty
- No documented food stalls at this Leonhardi procession — the draw is the blessing at Kloster Benediktbeuern's sports field and the 10am festival service in the monastery courtyard.
- Pair it with
- Benediktbeuern's local Gasthäuser for a hearty Bavarian lunch after the blessing.
- Itinerary fit
- Combine the procession and courtyard service with a visit to the baroque abbey church at Kloster Benediktbeuern, one of Bavaria's oldest monastery complexes.
Practical tips
The English-language details German fest pages usually skip.
- What to wear
- Warm layers for an outdoor 9 a.m. departure and courtyard Mass.
Frequently asked questions
- What time does the Benediktbeuern Leonhardifahrt start?
- The procession departs Schwimmbadstraße at 9 a.m.; the Festgottesdienst (blessing Mass) in the monastery courtyard begins at 10 a.m.
- When is it held?
- The Sunday nearest November 6 each year — November 8 in 2026, November 7 in 2027, November 5 in 2028.
- Where does it end?
- In the inner courtyard of Kloster Benediktbeuern, one of Bavaria's oldest monasteries.
- Free entry