Culture enthusiasts and fans of author Michael Ende can explore the small community of Valley in the Miesbach district, where the author lived and worked between 1965 and 1971.
A quick tip before you go: If you’d like to experience your heroes and heroines from children’s and young adult literature in a truly impressive way, be sure to stop by here!
The historic Altes Schloss Valley was Michael Ende’s literary refuge
In the 1960s, Michael Ende and his wife Ingeborg Hoffmann were looking for an idyllic retreat away from the hustle and bustle of Munich. They found it in the old bailiwick, now the Altes Schloss Valley Culture and Organ Museum
For several years, the author lived within these venerable walls and wrote, among other things, large portions of his masterpiece, the novel “Momo.” Although he ultimately had to sell the dilapidated property with a heavy heart due to high renovation costs, the building left a lasting mark on his work.
The real attic from *The Neverending Story*
Who doesn’t remember the dusty school attic, crammed with old stuff, where young Bastian Balthasar Bux takes refuge on a rainy day to immerse himself in the magical realm of Phantásien with his stolen book?
This very location has a real-life counterpart: the nine-meter-high roof truss in Valley. Ende himself confirmed that this place served as the model for that famous attic. By the way, you can see the actual sets from the film adaptation of the book at Bavaria Filmstadt !
From a dilapidated country estate to a resplendent cultural gem
Today, visitors to Valley immerse themselves not only in the exciting world of imagination but also in the majestic world of music. The dedicated art historian Dr. SixtusLampl saved the dilapidated estate from ruin in the late 1980s.
With enormous effort, he transformed it into a unique center that now houses over 60 historical instruments. During concerts and special attic tours, the spirit of Michael Ende wafts through the time-honored corridors.
Here’s how to get from Munich to Valley
🚗 By car (approx. 30–40 min.): Take the A8 highway (toward Salzburg) to the Holzkirchen exit, then follow the signs to Valley, which is just a few kilometers away.
🚆 By public transit: Take the S-Bahn (S3) orthe Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) to the Holzkirchen station. From there, take the MVV on-demand bus “hoki+” (bookable via app) for the final leg of the trip, which will take you directly to the castle.
🚲/🥾 Activity tip: It’s only about 5 kilometers by bike from Holzkirchen. Alternatively, take the BRB train to Darching and hike to the castle from there. Be sure to explore the beautiful surrounding area as well!
