The Ettal Monastery, famous all over the world, is the center of spiritual life, handicrafts, fascinating excursion routes and pilgrimages. It belongs to the Benedictine monasteries of the Abbey of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary and is located in the village of the same name, Ettal. The shrine is one of the most famous landmarks in Upper Bavaria, and tourists consider it to be a place that cannot be missed.
A brief historical excursion
According to some reports, this Benedictine monastery was founded in 1330 by order of the Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria from the Wittelsbach dynasty. On the way home from Italy, after long quarrels with Pope John XXII, the monarch stopped exactly at the site of the present monastery, giving an oath promise to found a monastery. Another version says that the construction of the monastery was associated exclusively with the economically beneficial need to expand the holdings, trade routes and the development of the area.
Whatever the reason for the construction of the Bavarian Ettal, but the order of the emperor was soon carried out. The construction of the church lasted 40 years - from 1330 to 1370. During the first four centuries, the temple did not belong to the significant abbeys. At the beginning of the second half of the 16th century, some buildings were damaged, as during this period the reformist clashes fell.
The heyday of pilgrimage and the spread of fame about the monastery took place in the 17th-18th centuries.
Then the shrine survived several fires, followed by a period of calm and oblivion. Only decades later, long-term restoration work began.
Most notably, there are craft, educational institutions and workshops for the preparation of certain food products on the territory of the monastery. At different periods of time, there were located a man's and a nunnery, a representation of the knightly Teutonic order, educational institutions, a brewery, a cheese factory, taverns, and a guest house.
The wealth and luxury of the architecture of Ettal Abbey
The Ettal Monastery is impressive at first sight: buildings of incredible beauty are distinguished by their special sophistication and a well-chosen combination of shapes and colors. Germany and its people can be proud of this attraction. Looking at the whole landscape, it is impossible not to notice how organically the buildings and the surrounding landscape complement each other, creating a truly masterpiece duet of the creation of nature and man.
As a result of wars and fires, the primary structures erected in the Middle Ages did not survive.
In the 18th century, the owners of the abbey decided to involve the Bavarian architect Enrico Zucalli in the construction of new buildings, who created Ettal in its modern form.
The territory of the monastery resembles the structure of a castle, which is due to the time when the buildings were erected. The main and auxiliary premises have the shape of a square, in the center of which an open space is preserved, where the courtyard with the entrance to the monastery is located.
The central building had an unusual structure by the standards of the 18th century. It is a dodecagon - a polygon with 12 corners.
Hidden behind the courtyard is the façade of the church and its seven axes, framed by columns that support the majestic dome. Two lateral surfaces with the shape of concave curved lines depart from it. Each of them is crowned with a tower with special distinctive features. Between the south tower and the central dome there is a bell tower - the oldest of the buildings, preserved from 1563.
The interior design and decoration, bright and pretentious, fully correspond to the Baroque style. A significant amount of stucco molding, marble inlay, gilded details and masterful painting are striking. The dome of an incredible size, as if framed by high windows, is decorated with an equally magnificent fresco. The pink marble altar features a white marble statue of Mary. The peculiarity of the shrine is the presence of an extension-balcony, towering on figured columns, where the organ built in 1768 is located.
Educational institutions at the Ettal monastery
At the Ettal monastery, education has always been advocated, therefore, various educational institutions operated in the surrounding territories. From 1711 to 1744, a knightly school was located here, and from 1905 to the present day, a gymnasium and a boarding school have been operating at the shrine. Initially, the gymnasium was separate, where only boys studied, but over time it was retrained into a mixed school.
Famous monastery crafts
Today the Ettal Monastery is home to 55 self-sustaining monks.
On the territory of the monastery there is everything that one may need: a bakery, a book publishing house, workshops, a hotel, a brewery and even a winery.
The abbey produces a delicious intoxicating drink made from pure, natural, home-grown ingredients. It is believed that the recipe for beer has been kept secret since the 14th century.
Herbal liqueurs and liqueurs with a healing effect are also known, which, in addition to plant extracts, have absorbed the best from the natural environment - the pure water of the Alps and various types of honey.
Another very tempting offer is a visit to a cheese dairy. Here you can see how cheese is prepared according to proven technologies for a century, as well as purchase the freshest dairy products.
How to plan a route yourself
The easiest and cheapest option is to take the train at Munich train station, which stops at Oberau station. Here you need to make a change and get by bus # 9606 to the village of Ettal, where the monastery is located. Upon reaching your destination, you will get off at the stop, from which the road leads directly to the attraction.
Another way to get a little more expensive is to directly book an excursion from Munich to the foothills of the Alps. This is one of the standard tourist routes, which includes a visit to the Ettal Monastery, Linderhof Palace and Oberammergau - the village of craftsmen.
Conclusion
The Ettal Monastery belongs to the most beautiful places in Bavaria. It is here that you can simultaneously get aesthetic pleasure from architecture, sculpture and artwork, as well as taste national unique dishes and drinks prepared according to medieval recipes.
In addition to the monastery, Bavaria has the castles of Herrenchiemsee and Neuschwanstein, St. Peter's Church in Munich and much more.
