Seligenstadt: Einhard Basilica, Monastery and the Main

Carolingian History and Monastic Life

Einhard had the three-aisled Einhard Basilica built around 830 as a burial church for the early Christian martyrs Marcellinus and Peter. It is one of the most significant churches from the Carolingian era on German soil. It is also the only Carolingian church north of the Alps where liturgical services are still held today. This combination of an early building and continued religious use makes the basilica a distinctive historic destination.

The former Seligenstadt Monastery is presented as a Baroque ensemble with a garden and offers an insight into monastic life in the 17th and 18th centuries. The complex is one of the few almost completely preserved monasteries in Hesse; a monastery wall around 700 metres long surrounds it. A tour of the exhibition rooms, particularly the prelature, brings the monastery’s 18th-century furnishings to life. In this way, views of the entire complex complement impressions of its historic interiors.

Choose the Einhard Trail to Suit Your Touring Style

The 60-kilometre Einhard Trail is marked with a white “E” on a red background and can be hiked in either direction. In the Odenwald, the route splits: the branch via Höchst is shorter and easier and is also suitable for cyclists. The two routes join again near Mosbach and lead hikers and cyclists to Seligenstadt. When planning your tour, both the direction and the choice of Odenwald branch are therefore relevant. Hikers and cyclists can use the markers for guidance and take the different route options into account.

You can also plan your journey according to your mode of transport. The Seligenstadt passenger and car ferry connects the Hessian and Bavarian banks of the Main. Check the current operating details before travelling. The Odenwald Railway connects Seligenstadt with the Odenwald, Hanau and Frankfurt; check the current timetables before your trip.

Museum, Walking Tours and Regional Impressions

The RegioMuseum in Seligenstadt takes visitors beyond the monastery complex: its themes include prehistory and early history, folklore and crafts, as well as painting and sculpture from the 15th to the 18th century. The history of the town and Seligenstadt Abbey is also part of the exhibition. The Palatium on the Main dates from the Staufer period and was probably built by Emperor Barbarossa as a hunting lodge. Visitors interested in different periods can focus their stay on architectural history and museum exhibits.

Another way to explore the town’s history is the free “Stolpersteine” walking tour. It starts at the Jewish cemetery and passes selected Stolpersteine, or “stumbling stones,” marking sites and telling the life stories of Jewish residents of Seligenstadt. The tour is open to everyone; check the current route details when planning. For a guided perspective, there is also the “In die Sommerfrische” (“A Summer Retreat”) walk: it leads from the monastery along the Main to the moated castle, covers about 3.5 kilometres and introduces the history of the former Benedictine abbey. As this is a bookable walk, confirm availability before your trip.

Visitors interested in local brewing culture can join brewery tours at Glaabsbräu, which end with a tasting of a Glaabs beer. Check booking and tour availability in advance. This lets you choose experiences to suit your interests: historic walks and exhibitions offer a different focus from a hike or a visit centred on brewing culture.

Choose the Right Holiday Apartment for Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay. Would you mainly like to discover the Einhard Basilica, the monastery and the town’s history, or should the Einhard Trail feature more prominently in your plans? For cycling holidays, the MainRadweg adds a regional option. Within the wider Offenbach destination, it runs through the district of Offenbach, passing through Mainhausen, Seligenstadt, Hainburg and Mühlheim along the Hessian Lower Main.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Egelsbach, Rödermark, Mühlheim Am Main, Offenbach Am Main, Heusenstamm, Dietzenbach, Rodgau, Hainburg.

Back to the main travel overview: Offenbach.