Wessobrunn: Monastery History, Church Art and Ancient Trees

Monastery History and Insights on Site

The old town hall, formerly Wessobrunn’s schoolhouse, now houses a visitor information centre. It presents the history of the monastery and the importance of the Wessobrunn artists. Guided tours of the monastery’s Prelate’s Wing offer a different perspective and include visits to the Magdalenen Hall and Tassilo Hall. The monastery’s preserved interiors feature Baroque stucco work and interior decorations. Anyone interested in design and art will find a specific reason to explore Wessobrunn not only through its monastery history, but also through its interiors.

Other buildings and works of art can also be linked to specific names and dates. Thassilo Zöpf created the stucco decoration and altars in the parish church of St. John the Baptist. Johann Baptist Baader painted the frescoes there in 1758 and 1759. The church also houses the late Romanesque Wessobrunn Cross, created around 1250 by an unknown artist.

Fountain Hall, Chapel and Places of Religious Remembrance

At the Three Springs stands an open, three-arched fountain hall, built in 1735 to plans by Joseph Schmuzer. The hall contains a painting depicting the founding legend and a view of the monastery based on Johann Schmuzer’s ideal plan. The Three Springs converge in the shape of a cross and have been venerated for many centuries. This site brings together architectural design, visual motifs and a long religious tradition.

The Kreuzberg Chapel commemorates the monks murdered by the Hungarians in 955. A stone plaque on the east side of its tower commemorates the chapel’s construction in 1595; Matthäus Günther painted the ceiling fresco in 1771. The Mariengrotte has a different history: it was built in 2009 from tufa stone taken from the former monastery church and consecrated on 11 October 2009 by the Bishop of Augsburg. It houses a copy of the statue “Mother of Holy Hope,” created around 1235 to 1250.

The ground floor of the medieval bell tower, also called the Roman Tower or “Grey Duke,” houses a lapidarium. On display are medieval stone fragments from demolished parts of the monastery and monastery church. From April to October, the lapidarium is open to visitors free of charge up to the entrance grille. This access restriction is useful to bear in mind when planning your visit and choosing between guided tours, works of art and a site with expressly limited access.

The Tassilo Linden and the Paterzell Yew Forest

The natural attractions include the Tassilo Linden, a summer lime tree (Tilia platyphyllos) about 17 metres tall, with a trunk circumference of approximately 14 metres. It is estimated to be 700 to 900 years old. It has been protected as a natural monument since 1980 and was declared a National Heritage Tree in October 2023.

The Paterzell Yew Forest is a natural, mixed, multi-layered forest with many old yew trees. The Yew Nature Trail, established in 1995, leads past the forest’s most distinctive spots. Alongside the historic buildings and works of art, the forest and its nature trail offer distinct natural attractions to choose from. Families looking to accommodate different interests can decide when planning whether to focus on monastery history, church art, ancient trees or the forest.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Wessobrunn, choosing what interests you can be a useful starting point: you can pick the area for its cultural history, its natural features or a combination of both. The sights described here vary considerably, from stucco and frescoes to medieval stone fragments, the Tassilo Linden and the yew forest.

More nearby places to explore: Altenstadt, Raisting, Schongau, Polling, Bernbeuren, Penzberg, Wielenbach, Peißenberg.

For the regional travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.