Mariä Himmelfahrt, Benedictine abbey church in Ettal, Germany
Mariä Himmelfahrt is the abbey church of a Benedictine monastery in Ettal, Bavaria, and it is topped by a large double-shelled dome. Inside, Gothic and Baroque elements stand side by side, with a three-part high altar in the Louis-Seize style and detailed stucco work covering the elliptical choir.
Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian founded the church in 1330 as part of a monastery complex. After a fire in the 18th century, the building was rebuilt and given the Baroque form it has today.
The name Mariä Himmelfahrt refers to the Assumption of Mary into heaven, a theme that runs through the decoration of the whole church. Paintings, sculptures, and the high altar all point to this event, making the meaning easy to read even for first-time visitors.
The church is open for visitors and for religious services, and the wider monastery grounds can also be walked through. Those with extra time can look around the brewery on site, which is part of the same complex.
According to the founding story, Emperor Ludwig's horse knelt three times on this very spot, which led him to choose this location for the church. The statue of the Virgin Mary that he brought back from Italy was then placed at that exact point.
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