Pilgrimage Church of St. Dionysius and the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Eggenberg

A beautiful little pilgrimage church on the Eggenberg on the edge of the deer forest. Every year on the 3rd Sunday in September there is the popular "Eggenberg-Kirwa" with church services, music and entertainment. Youth groups can spend the night in the sacristan's house next to the church, which belongs to the Ensdorf parish.

Pilgrimage Church of St. Dionysius and the Fourteen HelpersThe church and the pilgrimage go back to an image of the Virgin Mary that was attached to a tree on the Eggenberg and was venerated by the population. A marterl was then created into which the image of the Virgin Mary was inserted. The Eggenberg farmer Johann Forster finally set about building “this laudable place of worship” with the help of the sacrifice money for the Marterl and with his own resources. On September 28, 1698, a building contract was concluded between this farmer, Father Ildefons Kargus from the Ensdorf Monastery, and the master mason Martin Funk. The payment was 85 guilders and 8 pounds of flax. On November 25, 1698, Adam Eller was awarded the contract for the roofing work.
On the advice of the monastery judge Rümelin, the Fourteen Holy Helpers were elected as church patrons.
The pilgrimage church faces north. The southern, narrower half of the nave was built in 1699, the northern half including the retracted, semicircular closed choir in 1793. The onion roof turret sits above the choir.
The two rococo altars date from 1793. The main altar shows the adoration of the child Jesus by the Fourteen Helpers. The pulpit is already classicist (around 1800). The small organ dates from around 1720.
In 1732 an extension was built due to the influx of pilgrims; this is the middle part of today's church. In 1793 there was a further expansion to include today's chancel. In 1875 a renovation had to be carried out; In 1966/67 the church was further thoroughly renovated and new external plaster was applied.
Church events are held in the church several times a year. The church should have excellent acoustics. The Eggenberg Festival is well known and takes place on the third Sunday in September and continues to attract pilgrims from near and far.
The Mesner's or Eggenberg's House below the church was built under Pastor Wittmann in 1886 and renovated in 2008. Today it is used for weekend and holiday camps by youth groups as well as natural self-catering accommodation. In front of the house there is an octagonal fountain with the year 1896 and the inscription IHS.
Source: Excerpts from Wikipedia.de

The Bavarian State Forests have set up this hiking car park above the Eggenberg Church.