There are a number of hidden places around Munich that transport us to other worlds. Not only are there knight’s castles and snow-covered villages on the peaks of the Alps, but also mystical monasteries in the immediate vicinity. In Wessobrunn, you will find a very special form of spiritual power and artistic mastery. The small village in the Pfaffenwinkel region is known for its monastery and an ancient legend. At the same time, there is no mass tourism here, only genuine discoveries. Anyone hiking the King Ludwig Trail will pass right by here.
Of heavenly ladders and the oldest prayer
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Wessobrunn Monastery owes its existence to a dream: in 753, Duke Tassilo III is said to have slept under a lime tree while hunting and dreamed of a heavenly ladder with three springs bubbling at its foot. It was there that he founded the monastery, which later became one of Bavaria’s spiritual centers. On a guided tour of the monastery, you can experience the beautifully designed interiors. And in the monastery shop, you will also find a souvenir or two.
But Wessobrunn is much more than just a monastery town. It was here that the famous “Wessobrunn Prayer” was found: the oldest Christian linguistic monument in the German language. It was actually written around the year 814. It describes in powerful words the creation of the world out of chaos.
Today: Wessobrunn as an art magnet and haven of peace
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Today, the village of Wessobrunn next to the monastery is a relaxing retreat. Take a look at the history of the “Wessobrunn School”: over 600 plasterers and master builders were trained here and their craft influenced Bavarian Baroque and Rococo throughout Europe.
And if you need a break after so much culture, one of Bavaria’s oldest nature reserves, the Paterzell Yew Forest, is right on your doorstep. It is the largest yew forest in Germany, with some of the trees centuries old and mystically intertwined. The Tassilo lime tree is legendary: today it is considered one of Germany’s most important “national heritage trees. “ With a trunk circumference of about 14 meters, it is a perfect photo opportunity.