Hornbach monastery

Hornbach monastery is a Benedictine complex near Pirmasens featuring a five-towered basilica and remaining convent buildings set by the Schwarzbach stream. The structures display romanesque and gothic architectural elements characteristic of medieval monastic design.

Saint Pirmin founded the monastery in 741, establishing it as an important religious center. His burial at the site after his death in 753 increased its spiritual significance and drew pilgrims from the region.

The monastery complex reveals its spiritual purpose through spaces where religious communities lived and worshipped for generations. Walking through the buildings, visitors sense the continuity of monastic life that shaped this place over time.

Visitors can explore the grounds and view a museum with religious objects housed in the former monastery buildings. The site also offers a hotel and restaurant, allowing visitors to spend time discovering the space comfortably.

The shrine where Saint Pirmin rested was lost for centuries before its rediscovery in 1953, after which his remains were returned and a new chapel was built to honor him. This recovery transformed the monastery into a renewed destination for those interested in early monastic history.

Location: Pirmasens

GPS coordinates: 49.18693,7.36960

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:44