Discover Wessobrunn: Monastery History, Art and Nature

Wessobrunn brings together the history of a significant former Benedictine monastery, works of art, memorial sites and distinctive natural attractions. Between the church, chapels and fountain hall, you can encounter different chapters in the town’s history; the Tassilo Lime Tree and Paterzell Yew Forest add their own distinctive landscapes. You can tailor your visit to whether you are most interested in discovering architecture and art or nature.

Monastery History and Baroque Rooms

Wessobrunn Monastery is a significant former Benedictine monastery in Old Bavaria. Its surviving interiors feature Baroque stuccowork and decorations. Guided tours of the Prelate’s Wing include visits to the Magdalenen Hall and Tassilo Hall. If you are interested in the design of historic interiors, these tours offer a close look at two rooms in the monastery. Check the current tour schedule before your trip.

Church, Chapels and Works of Art

Different historical periods meet in the parish church of St. John the Baptist. The late Romanesque Wessobrunn Cross was created around 1250 by an unknown artist and is now housed in the church. Thassilo Zöpf created its stucco decoration and altars; the frescoes were painted by Johann Baptist Baader in 1758 and 1759. The cross, stuccowork, altars and frescoes offer different ways to explore the church’s decorative features.

The Kreuzberg Chapel commemorates the monks murdered by the Hungarians in 955. A stone plaque on the east side of its tower marks the year it was built, 1595. Matthäus Günther painted the chapel’s ceiling fresco in 1771. Its commemorative purpose, inscription and fresco each offer a different perspective on this place.

The Three Springs and the Marian Grotto

The Three Springs converge in the shape of a cross and have been venerated for many centuries. Beside them stands the open, three-arched fountain hall, built in 1735 to plans by Joseph Schmuzer. Inside are a painting depicting the founding legend and a view of the monastery based on Johann Schmuzer’s ideal plan. Here, the hall’s design and its images connect with the history of the town.

The Marian Grotto is also connected with the former monastery church: built in 2009 from the church’s tufa stone, it was consecrated by the Bishop of Augsburg on 11 October of that year. The grotto contains a copy of the statue “Mother of Holy Hope,” dating from around 1235 to 1250. The monastery’s history can therefore also be explored through individual works of art and the memorial sites created for them later.

Visitor Information and Seasonal Access

A visitor information centre is located in the old town hall, formerly Wessobrunn’s schoolhouse. It presents the history of the monastery and the significance of the Wessobrunn artists. Opening information varies by season, so check before your visit.

The ground floor of the medieval bell tower houses a lapidarium containing medieval stone fragments from demolished parts of the monastery and monastery church. The tower is also known as the Roman Tower or the “Grey Duke.” From April to October, the lapidarium is freely accessible up to the entrance gate. Check seasonal access before your trip.

The Tassilo Lime Tree and Paterzell Yew Forest

The Tassilo Lime Tree is a small-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) about 17 metres tall, with a trunk circumference of approximately 14 metres. Its age is estimated at 700 to 900 years; the exact figure is unknown. It has been protected as a natural monument since 1980 and was designated a National Heritage Tree in October 2023. The tree’s measurements make it a clearly defined natural attraction, while the Paterzell Yew Forest offers a different sense of scale.

Paterzell Yew Forest is a near-natural, mixed, multi-layered woodland with many old yew trees. The Yew Nature Trail, established in 1995, passes the forest’s most striking features within the municipality of Wessobrunn. You can appreciate the natural monument and the forest as distinct highlights: here, a single lime tree with an estimated age and known measurements; there, a multi-layered woodland with numerous old yews.

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