Ettal Monastery - So close to heaven

Between mountain and valley, between heaven and earth - nowhere is the contrast clearer than in the midst of the nature of the Bavarian Alps, with its many sights and the Ettal Monastery.

With its imposing and unique monastery complex, Ettal is one of the highlights of Bavarian architecture. Around 30 Benedictine monks still live in the monastery, which was founded by Ludwig the Bavarian in 1330, and it preserves cultural treasures such as the "Gnadenbild", the Ettal Madonna, the rococo sacristy, the so-called "Fürstenappartement" from the 18th century, a historic pharmacy and library as well as the mighty basilica. Experience the monastery and its operations up close on public guided tours.

The monks and staff offer guided tours of the church, the distillery and the brewery - where the monks have been brewing the famous Ettal monastery beer for over 400 years. The monastery hotel opposite offers its guests Bavarian cuisine, wellness for the soul and cosy rooms for a holiday in Ettal - a jewel in Europe.

Ettaler Klosterbetriebe GmbH
Jens Riedel
Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz 10-12
D-82488 Ettal

+49 (0) 8822 - 9150
kloster-ettal.de/
info@klosterhotel-ettal.de
klosterhotel_ettal
kloster.ettal

Customized Travel

Apart from the many attractions that the Jewels partners can offer, there are of course loads of other things to see and experience in the area of the Jewels of Romantic Europe.

If you are looking to get the most out of your stay here, this page will help you with finding more things to do, see and taste without having to go far.

Restaurant & Beergarden Klosterhottel Ettal

For traditional Bavarian cuisine, we recommend the restaurant and beer garden of the Klosterhotel Ettal. Thanks to first-class produce from the monastery's farm and market garden, venison from the monastery's own hunt and fish specialities from the surrounding lakes, the kitchen team serves a variety of fresh and regional specialities.

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Café 1330

Sweet delicacies are available at Café 1330 in the inner courtyard of Ettal Monastery. You can look forward to homemade cakes, tarts and strudel with fresh fruit, creamy whipped cream or vanilla sauce.
In summer, the fruit and milk ice cream varieties are particularly recommended. In warm temperatures and sunshine, the outdoor terrace offers a fantastic view of the basilica and the Ettal mountains.

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Oberammergau Passion Play Theatre

The Oberammergau Passion Play is a five-hour performance in which more than
than 2,000 participants bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to life in the detailed and impressive passion theatre. The Passion Theatre in Oberammergau has a tradition going back almost 400 years. The festival always begins with a vow. As 80 people fell victim to the plague during the Thirty Years' War, the community leaders of the time vowed in 1633 that a passion would be held every ten years to finally rid the village of the plague.

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Group offers

Ettal Monastery has very special offers for tour groups: For example, guided tours through the Ettal monastery basilica with sacristy or all kinds of interesting facts about beer and spirits, with guided tours through the liqueur factory and monastery brewery including tastings. Afterwards, the group can savour Bavarian delicacies in the restaurant of the monastery hotel opposite.

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Hiking experience for the whole family on the Timberland Trail

Young people and children particularly enjoy hiking on the Timberland Trail near the village of Bad Kohlgrub (approx. 17 km away). Discover and marvel the forest and its animals on the way along the trail with the "Locandy" app, an interactive radio play specially developed for families. Fini the squirrel accompanies the hikers on their way through the Ludwigsschlucht and tells many exciting stories about the forest.

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Hiking and Biking in the Ammergauer Alps

The nature of the Ammergau Alps is characterised by peaks, idyllic forests and clear lakes. There are many opportunities for outdoor activities and nature experiences. The area around the Ettal monastery offers a wide variety of hiking and cycle paths through the beautiful countryside. A popular excursion destination is the nearby Ettaler Manndl mountain. At the summit, 1,632 metres above sea level, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.

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Skiing and cross-country skiing in winter

Winter lovers also get their money's worth in the Ammergau Alps. In the cold season you can start directly behind the monastery hotel on perfectly groomed cross-country ski trails. You can also look forward to various ski slopes - for example the nearby ski area on the Zugspitze or the Garmisch-Classic.

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Ettal monastery shop

If you are looking for a souvenir from your trip to Ettal, you will find it in the monastery shop. Here you will find a wide range of sacred artefacts, gift items, books and monastery products, such as monastery beer, monastery liqueur, spirits and monastery tea. The monastery market also offers regional specialities.

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