Andechs Abbey

Andechs Abbey tickets: which one to buy

Andechs Abbey stands on a hill above the Ammersee lake, about forty kilometres south-west of Munich, Bavaria, and entry to the pilgrimage church is free. It is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Bavaria, but it is equally famous for its brewery, run by the Benedictine monks, and its beer garden with views over the countryside. Visitors often combine the church with a beer and a traditional Bavarian meal in the Bräustüberl.

Tours of the brewery are offered on certain days. Andechs can be reached by S-Bahn train from Munich to Herrsching, followed by a bus or a walk of about an hour through the forest along the pilgrims' path. The abbey is busy on weekends and holidays, especially in summer. The church is active, and visiting pauses during services. The walk from Herrsching station through the Kiental valley takes about an hour.

Visiting Andechs Abbey: what to see

The Holy Mountain of Andechs was the seat of the Counts of Andechs in the Middle Ages, and a collection of relics, including hosts said to have been blessed by Pope Gregory the Great, was discovered here in 1388, attracting pilgrims. A Benedictine monastery was founded in 1455. The pilgrimage church, built in the Gothic style in the fifteenth century, was remodelled in 1751 and 1755 in a rococo style by Johann Baptist Zimmermann, who decorated the interior with frescoes, stucco and gilded altars. The church's treasures include the relics, displayed in the Holy Chapel, a Gothic statue of the Virgin and a collection of votive candles, some of which are enormous. The composer Carl Orff, who wrote Carmina Burana, is buried in a chapel in the church.

The brewery has been producing beer for more than five hundred years. The church's ceiling frescoes depict the history of the monastery and the saints of the Andechs family, including Saint Elisabeth of Hungary and Saint Hedwig. The rococo altars are decorated with gilded figures and marble. The Holy Chapel, behind the high altar, displays the relics in a treasury. Votive candles, some decorated with painted scenes, fill a special room. The church's tower, with an onion dome, is visible from far away. The monastery's brewery produces several beers, including a dark doppelbock. The Bräustüberl serves traditional Bavarian food, such as roast pork and pretzels. The monastery's gardens and the views over the Ammersee and the Alps are beautiful.

Andechs Abbey opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily, and the Bräustüberl beer garden is open all year, with outdoor seating in good weather. Weekends and holidays, especially sunny summer days, bring crowds from Munich. Spring and autumn are pleasant for the walk from Herrsching, and the autumn colours are beautiful. Winter can be snowy. The Carl Orff Festival is held in the abbey in summer. The pilgrimage season is busiest around Pentecost. Allow about half an hour for the church, and longer for a meal in the beer garden. The Ammersee lake, below the monastery, has paddle steamers and swimming beaches in summer.