Benediktinerinnenabtei St. Walburg, Romanesque abbey and pilgrimage church in Eichstätt, Germany.
Benediktinerinnenabtei St. Walburg is a Romanesque abbey in Eichstätt, Bavaria, built in stone with barrel vaults and a church that holds several chapels. The complex also includes living quarters for the nuns and working areas that remain in active use today.
The monastery was founded in 1074, making it one of the oldest continuously active Benedictine communities in Bavaria. Over the centuries it grew into an important pilgrimage site, largely because of the devotion surrounding Saint Walburga.
The abbey takes its name from Saint Walburga, an English nun who came to Germany in the 8th century to spread Christianity. Her shrine inside the church remains a place of prayer that visitors can approach throughout the year.
The abbey church is open during the day and the main entrance faces the center of Eichstätt. The stone floors are uneven in places and some areas are reached by steep stairs, so sturdy footwear makes the visit more comfortable.
The tomb of Saint Walburga is said to release a clear liquid each year from October through February, known as Walburga oil. Pilgrims have collected this liquid for centuries, believing it to carry healing properties.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
