Take the small and winding path upwards through the sculpture park (guarded by giants of the horse chestnut variety), then onwards past the inviting restaurant on the left and the beautiful bier garten on your right (closed for the winter sadly – but there’s always next year!). Follow the cobbles onwards and upwards, until you reach the building that forms the pinnacle of this fairytale setting. Kloster Andechs is perched atop a small but perfectly formed hill, encircled by woodland and surrounded by patchwork fields. Its onion-domed church can be spotted miles away thanks to its lofty location, and I guarantee that you will spend the last ten minutes of the car journey there watching it sprout from tiny speck in the distance to impressive edifice as you stand before it. It is, according to the Six Year Old “cool”, but (in his opinion), mainly for the enormous (and rather gruesome) sun-dial illustration that adorns the front “porch”…
This Abbey, a place of pilgrimage to thousands each year, is considered a sacred place in ancient and present day texts (you can often find it referred to as “The Holy Mountain” thanks to relics reputed to be consecrated here), and can be appreciated by both the faithful and the not so, who can stand in awe at the interior of its exquisite baroque church (the secret behind the door in my last Silent Sunday).
Having originated in 1492, the Abbey’s adjacent (and superior) brewery is still expertly run by monks today. This is of course the very same year that Christopher Columbus was busy discovering America, but here at Kloster Andechs, they were incredibly busy brewing bier (a comment blatantly stolen from one of our party members, but it made me laugh), and it’s something that they are very much still doing now!
And after half an hour’s cherub spotting and gargoyle inspection, the Braustueberl proved the perfect place for an early lunch, and a smidgen of sampling the Abbey’s finest. I think it might just have the most magnificent views of any Bavarian Bier hall ever too…
I do love the sign that reminded us that we were in a holy neighbourhood lest we forget ourselves. It reads “drink and eat, but don’t forget God”. I can confirm that both the vista, and the bier were both heavenly in any event.
Ever so slightly out-of-place – but we spotted this on the way back to the car (I have no idea how we missed it on the way up!). If nothing else takes your fancy here perhaps? Nope, I have no idea either…
And after our spot of Saturday morning Abbey Appreciation, we repaid the Small Boy for his patience (in both the church and the bierhall), with a quick jaunt on the banks of the Amersee whilst we waited for his big sister to finish a day’s outward bound camp nearby.
A wonderful place (that we will explore further one day) for the King of the Sticks to let off a bit of steam…
the lovebox thing is priceless ;)
I still wonder what on earth that was doing there! :D
That Abbey is utterly stunning, really really beautiful. And captured brilliantly by you! X
Thank you. It’s like a fairytale place. Bavaria is good for that! :D xx
Another place I have to visit!
And I am definitely not a fan of camping, but this caravan looks fab… xx
You would definitely stand out on the campsite!! Thank you! :) xx
It always amazes me the intricate work you see in churches, even small village ones. I’m sure God didn’t mind you having a tipple in his house :-)
I don’t think he would have minded either. Thanks Trish! :)
I am in complete adoration of baroque design. There’s something so sumptuous and over-the-top about it, which makes it all the more lovely, because it works so well!
The Abbey is so beautiful! Another place to add to my must visit list!
And you should! Thanks rebecca! :)
What is it with boys and sticks? I have the most enormous stick pile just outside of the front door. Very interesting Lovebox ;-)
I don’t know. It’s like he’s addicted, glad it’s not just mine! I know right! :D
Love it all – especially the lovebox!
The Abbey is gorgeous – all those colours inside, always boggles my brain at how long painting these things must have taken. The white against the gold is stunning isn’t it?
Sounds like you all had a good time! x
Thank you Annie! Twas a lovely way to spend a morning! :D x
Is it really bad that I just got really excited about the Nur die Liebe zaehlt box. I loved that show. Some people were soooo creepy and cringey though…
Aha, it appears that I have found someone who knows more about the Love Caravan than I do!! Spill the beans Carolin!! :D
Loving this post and the pictures of the abbey – I’ll be pinning this to my places to see board!
Thanks Michelle! :)
The abbey is absolutely stunning and magnificent and I love all the history surrounding it, what a find. Lovely to see the Small Boy off having a great time exploring at such an interesting place. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Thanks Fiona. Happy I had something to join in again with this week! :)
i think i like the twisted drift wood as much as the abbey. how fab to have a an ale after the tour yum
Thanks Helen. Yes, that was a highlight! :D
That is an amazing find – so ornate and beautiful! x
Thanks Mum. We can go next time! :) xx
Amazing! Such an imposing building, but still a surprise to see how incredibly elaborate it is inside. Really breathtaking with the gold against the white. The bier sounds pretty good too and that caravan cover is just bizarre! x
Thank you… It’s so beautiful inside, and that caravan? I don’t even want to know! :D xx
Wow that is so beautiful and ornate. I think I could stand for ages just admiring it all.
Thank you. We did exactly that! :)
What a fabulous place! I think that church even beats the Italian ones I have visited in it’s ornateness. Beautiful.
Thanks Louisa, it is so ornate, it’s a bit dizzying! :D
Oh my goodness, the abbey is spectacular – the gold and the white. And I’m with 6 YO boy, I think the sundial is tres cool too x
Thanks Sarah, it’s lucky it’s quite dark inside, you might need shades otherwise! :)
Wow! How much gold is in that Abbey.I love the gargoyles but I’m curious to know what goes on in a tin foil covered caravan labeled ‘LOVE BOX’ ? ;)
I can’t believe we missed that on the way up the hill Aly, I might not be so curious… :D xx