Ettal Abbey, Benedictine monastery in Ettal, Germany
Ettal Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the Graswang valley with a distinctive double-shelled green dome above its basilica. The Baroque buildings house a community of monks, a school, a brewery, distillery, and herb gardens.
A German emperor founded the monastery in 1330 on a major trade route between Italy and Augsburg. This location made it a significant center for religious life and economic activity in the region.
The place is named after Mary's grace and draws pilgrims seeking the marble statue at its heart. It remains a center of prayer and learning where monks live together following their daily routines.
The basilica is open to visitors during daylight hours with free access to the interior. Tours of the brewery and distillery can be arranged on site to see the monks' craft work.
A marble statue of Mary brought from Pisa by the founder stands at the heart of the church and draws pilgrims from afar. Many visitors come specifically to see this figure, which has been honored here since the monastery's beginning.
Location: Ettal
Inception: 14 century
Founders: Louis IV of Bavaria
Architectural style: baroque architecture
Address: Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz 1
Website: http://kloster-ettal.de
GPS coordinates: 47.56958,11.09466
Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:05
European religious architecture spans over a thousand years, from the Middle Ages to the present day. This collection includes monasteries and buildings constructed in a variety of styles, from Romanesque to Gothic, Baroque to Rococo, and innovative modern designs still under development. Some are situated in notable locations: Mont-Saint-Michel rises on its rocky islet surrounded by tides, Meteora monasteries overlook the Thessalian plain from their sandstone pinnacles, while Kylemore Abbey reflects in the waters of Connemara. Many of these sites retain their original religious purpose. Monks still inhabit Sainte-Catherine in Sinai, Rila in Bulgaria, and Kylemore in Ireland. Others, like San Galgano in Tuscany, have lost their roofs and inhabitants but still bear witness to the scale of medieval constructions. Visitors can explore Wiblingen's baroque libraries, walk through the underground tunnels of Petchersk Lavra, or admire the royal tombs at Alcobaça Monastery. Each structure tells a part of the continent's religious and architectural history.
Kofel
3.3 km
Laber (Ammergauer Alpen)
1.9 km
Ettaler Manndl
2.3 km
Mariä Himmelfahrt
4 m
Ettaler Weidmoos
2.4 km
Kohlbach
2.8 km
Ettaler Mühle
1.5 km
St. Ludwig
3.3 km
Manndlbach
468 m
Laber
1.9 km
Kapelle St. Gregor
3.3 km
Hänsel-und-Gretel-Heim
3.1 km
Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz 16
151 m
Kriegerdenkmal
180 m
Zieglerhof
1 km
Laberberg
1.8 km
Werdenfelser Straße 2
163 m
Hillern-Schlössl
3 km
Großer Laber
2 km
Höllstein
2.9 km
Ammergauer Straße 32
630 m
Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz 2
177 m
Ettaler Straße 49
3 km
Ammergauer Straße 35
583 m
Wohnteil eines ehemaligen Bauernhauses
200 m
Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz 3
114 m
Bergwald-Erlebnispfad Ettal
523 m
Ziegelspitz
2.3 kmReviews
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