The route of the abbeys, at the gates of Belgium 1/3: Through Germany – Travel
You can visit an abbey because you are looking for peace and quiet or looking for spirituality. But also quite simply because they are often superb buildings located in magnificent places. Here is a selection of the most beautiful abbeys in Germany.
The Andechs Kloster © Getty Images
The Kloster Andechs is nestled in the heart of the mountains in Bavaria. It was built in the 15th century. In the Andechs correspondents, the Benedictines have been brewing beer since the Middle Ages.
The Andechs Kloster © Getty Images
Pilgrims who take the road to Santiago de Compostela can be accommodated in rooms in the monastery.
The former abbey of Corvey © Getty Images
The former Benedictine Abbey of Corvey is located in Höxter, North Rhine-Westphalia. The abbey is unique because it is one of the rare buildings from the Carolingian period still fully intact. The abbey is also known for its library.
The former abbey of Corvey © Getty Images
In 2014, the abbey was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List. In the past, visitors have been successful in the Dreizehnlinden house, but it is currently closed. This would only be temporary since the intention is to soon reopen it to visitors.
Drübeck monastery © Getty Images
The former Kloster Drübeck (Germany) of the Benedictines is located in Ilsenburg in the Harz. Although the nuns have disappeared, the resort remains a haven of peace amidst the beautiful nature of Nordharz.
Drübeck monastery © Getty Images
Several outbuildings, such as the Äbtissinnenhaus and the Haus der Stille, offer guests the opportunity to stay overnight.
Eberbach monastery © Getty Images
Kloster Eberbach is hidden in the forests of the Rhein-Taunus Nature Park in the Land of Hesse. Excellent wines have been produced here since the Middle Ages, and today the monastery is one of the largest wineries in Germany.
Eberbach monastery © Getty Images
Parts of the film “The Name of the Rose”, based on Umberto Eco’s 1986 book, were filmed here. A wing of the monastery is used as a hotel.
Ettal Monastery © Getty Images
The Benedictine monastery of Ettal (Germany), Bavaria, was founded in 1330. The imposing dome is visible from afar. About thirty monks run a gymnasium where they teach secondary school students.
Ettal Monastery © Getty Images
The monks also make cheese and liquor from Ettal Monastery and organize guided tours. You can experience everyday life in a monastery by spending the night.
Frauenwörth Abbey © Getty Images
Abtei Frauenwörth on the island Frauenchiemsee. The island measures 300 meters by 600 and the Benedictine monastery occupies a third of the space.
Frauenwörth Abbey © Getty Images
Guests wishing to meditate and relax in a monastic environment are welcome at Gästehaus Scholastika.
Loccum monastery © Getty Images
The Cistercian monastery of Loccum (Germany), founded in the 16th century, is located in Lower Saxony. The Cistercians no longer live there, but the monastery still plays a religious role.
Loccum Monastery © Getty Images
Hikers on the pilgrimage route from Loccum to Volkenroda can spend the night in the Pilgerhaus.
Moon Monastery © Getty Images
The Lüne Monastery is located in the center of Lüneburg in Lower Saxony. The convent was founded in 1172.
Moon Monastery © Getty Images
The nuns still live in the convent today. Valuable works of art are exhibited there.
Maria Laach Abbey © Getty Images
The Benedictine Abbey of Maria Laach is the most famous building in the German Eifel and a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture. The abbey is located on the edge of a volcanic lake, the Laacher See.
Maria Laach Abbey © Getty Images
You can spend the night in the adjacent Seehotel Maria Laach.
Maulbronn Monastery © Getty Images
The former Cistercian abbey of Maulbronn was founded in 1147 and is located in the Land of Baden-Württemberg.
Maulbronn Monastery © Getty Images
It is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries north of the Alps and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Monastery on the island of Reichenau © Getty Images
The Klosterinsel Reichenau (Germany), located on the island of Reichenau in Lake Constance, was founded around 724 and was an important monastery in the early Middle Ages, but which since 1803 no longer has a religious function. Since 2000, the monastery has been inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List.
Monastery on the island of Reichenau © Getty Images
Saint-Marienthal Monastery © Getty Images
Klosterstift Sankt Marienthal, located in Oberlausitz in Saxony, is the oldest female monastery in Germany still in operation.
Saint-Marienthal Monastery © Getty Images
The Benedictine nuns welcome guests to the rooms of the Josefshaus.
Sankt Mang Monastery © Getty Images
Kloster Sankt Mang is a Benedictine monastery located in Füssen, near the Austrian border. The history of the century dates back to the 9th century, but since 1803 it no longer has a religious function.
Sankt Mang Monastery © Getty Images
Weltenbourg Abbey © Getty Images
The Benedictine Abbey of Weltenburg is located on the banks of the Danube in Kelheim, Bavaria. Beer has been brewed in the abbey since 1015. This makes it one of the oldest working monastery breweries in the world.
Weltenbourg Abbey © Getty Images
With the Benedictine philosophy of hospitality, you can also spend the night at the monastery.