Check out pilgrimage tours in Bavaria, the southern German state steeped in religious sights and experiences.

You can discover the town of Altötting (home to the most famous shrine in Germany) as well as Marktl, the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI, located a short 15 minute drive from Altötting.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit Andechs Monastery and Brewery (located in the Starnberger 5 Lake Region, just south of Munich) - a cherished destination for pilgrims for more than half a millennium that represents cultural, spiritual and economic unity. You can also see the world-famous Passion Plays, which take place in Oberammergau every 10 years.

Use the links below to learn more about the religious centers that make your pilgrimage tour in Bavaria one you'll remember forever.

• Altötting -  Homeland of Pope Benedict XVI 
• Oberammergau  - More than a Passion Play

Learn more about pilgrimage tours in Bavaria

Pilgrimage tours in Bavaria are the perfect way to begin your Christian or Catholic pilgrimage. You can join with others to commemorate the birthplace and homeland of Pope Benedict XVI, enjoy a beer at Andechs where the Benedictine monks have been living and brewing high quality beer since the Middle Ages or set your eyes and ears to the impressive Passion Plays, which capture the story of Jesus Christ -- from his suffering and death to the moment of his resurrection.

For centuries, towering over lake Ammersee (located in the Starnberger 5 Lake Region) stands the mighty "sacred mountain" of Bavaria, Andechs monastery, one of Germanys three most famous pilgrimage sites.

Here, millions of visitors admire Europe's largest collection of votive candles and the rococo-style church, as well as the high quality beer the Benedictine monks have been brewing here since 1455. Guided tours are available during which you can taste six different flavors of beer.

Just a stone's throw from the majestic scenery of the Bavarian Alps, approximately 30 miles south of Munich, is where the holiday region known as Starnberger 5 Lake Region is located.

In former times, artists and sovereigns (like "Sisi", the Austrian empress, and Bavaria's fairy tale King Ludwig II) appreciated the beauty of this dream landscape. Sisi's and King Ludwig II's romantic meeting point, the "Roseninsel" (Rose Island) offshore from Feldafing, can be reached today by a flat wooden boat. Ludwig II spent his summers in Berg castle on the lake. The commemorative chapel "Votivkapelle" and the memorial cross in the lake remind us of the tragic death of the king.

Another major cultural attraction is the "Buchheim Museum" at Bernried, located close to Lake Starnberg. The museum presents a survey of the famous Buchheim Collection of expressionism as well as craftwork and folk-art from all over the world.

Starnberger 5 Lake Region also offers water sports, lake swimming, indoor pools, sailing, wind-surfing, 110 miles of hiking trails, 155 miles of bike trails, eight 18-hole courses and one indoor arena. Munich, the Bavarian capital, can be reached easily from all five lakes. The good train and subway connections make it possible to enjoy both idyllic countryside and the excitement of capital city flair.