If God lived on earth, then in Bavaria, which is among the Europe's richest areas in terms of monasteries. More than a millennium the communities marked the spiritual-cultural life. The clerics prefered the district of Weilheim-Schongau. It's name "Pfaffenwinkel" is owed to the high density of monasteries in the area. Monasteries such as Andechs, Wessobrunn, Polling, Bernried, Ettal and Benediktbeuern are still in service today. Rottenbuch, Dießen and Steingaden had been closed, yet still symbolize the churches' power and wealth.

Who is rich, can afford the arts. The monasteries make extensive use of that during baroque and rococo and had their sacred buildings equipped with great pomp. The Wessobrunn school of the monastery of the same name is famous having brought forth outstanding stucco plasterers, frescoe painters and building master such as the Zimmermann brothers (builders of Wieskirche) or Schmuzer and Feichtmayr family. A literary gem is the Wessobrunner prayer with texts for the heathen mission. It was composed in 814 and is the oldest testimony of Bavarian language. It is kept in the Munich State library.

The Pfaffenwinkel was also a centre of natural sciences. On Hohe Peißenberg the Rottenbucher monks installed the first meteorological office on behalf of the Palatine elector in 1781. Today it is run by the German weather service.

Who is looking for relaxation, art and culture, loves Ammersee. It lures with idyllic bathing spaces and a a minster in Dießen which is quite unique. The Marienmünster is a masterpiece of famous artists. Built between 1732-1739 by baroque master J. M. Fischer, Munich court buildng master F. Cuvilliés designed the altar and the altar image stems from Venetian painter Tiepolo. The plasterings, seeming like marble, are made by the Feichtmayr brothers.

The fading of the day is accompanied by beer and the arts at Kloster Andechs (10km away). Without a doubt, number one of the Upper Bavarian monasteries is Steingaden with the Welfenmünster and the Wieskirche. The pilgrimage church „Zum gegeißelten Heiland auf der Wies“, a unique rooco gem and worldheritage, owes its origins to a female farmer. She noticed tears at the Christ figure, which had been removed due to its poor appearance. The wonder, which happened in her bedroom, spread fast as lightning and attracted manypilgrims. To handle the inrush the abbot from Steingaden had the Wieskirche built – regardless of the financial desaster for the monastery.

The monumental monastery complex Ettal defies impressively the mountain massives near Garmisch. For the foundation of the monastery in 1329, an angel shall have given Kaiser Ludwig dem Bayern the painting of mercy, which is now enthroned in the high altar. Ettal as well as Benediktbeuern, hosting precious relics, is famous for its hospitality. Both merchandize products and invite toreflect and rest in the pretty monatery restaurant.

by Karin Nagl