The Breathtaking Monasteries in Baden-Württemberg & the Swabian Alb

Monasteries are not just religious structures; they are also cultural goldmines that hold secrets to the legends and history of an area. I fully believe that so much can be understood about past civilizations by simply studying their religious facilities. That’s why I was so thrilled to get to see two beautiful monasteries during my time in the Swabian Alb region of Germany. So, without further ado, let’s talk a bit about the breathtaking monasteries in Baden-Württemberg and the Swabian Alb region.

Blaubeuren Monastery

The Blaubeuren Monastery is a building that has been through a great deal of change throughout the history of the town. It started as a Benedictine Monastery until the Reformation before turning into a Protestant Seminary in modern times. In fact, students of many ages still live in the dormitories and study theology at the Blaubeuren Monastery today. Unlike olden times, however, woman are allowed to study there now.

The chapel area of the monastery is quite striking and well worth the tour. As you enter the building, you pass through stone passageways that eventually reveal a beautiful circular tower with a well underneath it that churns the flowing water under the town. From there, you can walk out into the vibrant courtyard prior to moving into the chapel, itself.

The chapel itself houses an array of religious art dating back hundreds of years. While the art was quite interesting (and a bit weird) in itself, the chapel would simply take your breath away. From the articulately detailed wood carvings to the alter on the chapel, it was a sight to behold. So, if you’re looking to take in the beautiful sights and rich history of the area near the Swabian Alb, I highly recommend you visit the monastery here to soak in the peaceful environment as you visit the breathtaking monasteries in Baden-Württemberg.

Wiblingen Abbey

 

 

 

 

 

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I feel that when most people think of a Baroque Monastery, they picture some gorgeously ornate library that looks as if it stepped out of a fairy tale. I think the Strahov Monastery Library trended all over social media and may have started (or at least help to spread) that trend. I visited Strahov last summer, and I will say that I was pretty disappointed that we couldn’t go inside the library to get a closer look at its beauty. While I understand the reasoning, it’s still disappointing to not be able to immerse yourself deeply into the history of such a cultural hot spot. Perhaps, that’s what I loved the absolute most about Wiblingen Abbey and its breathtakingly surreal Baroque library. Not only can guests see the library structure, but you are allowed to walk in and admire all the gorgeously articulate details up close. You truly get to immerse yourself in this beautiful fairy-tale-like place.

As you walk into the library, you’ll see shiny floors, statues that look like glistening marble (which actually aren’t made from marble, as the base of the monastery wouldn’t hold the weight of actual marble statues), ceilings depicting elaborate religious stories, shining gold paint, and an array of historical books and archives. The pastel colors adorned with shining gold just scream ‘baroque’, and the bookshelves at the end of both sides of the library hide circular staircases that take you up to a second-story walkway. It’s a magical library that looks as it if it walked out of my dreams, and its beauty (along with the knowledge held there) made this one of my favorite spots I visited in Germany on this adventure as we visited the most breathtaking monasteries in Baden-Württemberg.

There is also a museum on the site of the monastery, and you are also welcomed to walk around the grounds of the building, as well. The abbey was built in 1093 and served as a Benedictine abbey before later being used as barracks. It was reformed in 1701 (through 1806) as a revival in art, culture, and religion had the building expanded upon and the buildings changed to reflect a more ‘modern’ look at that time. Everything was erected to look Late-Baroque in style except the actual church which claimed an early Neo-Calassicism style. Today, it houses the medical faculty of the University of Ulm and is used for studies. And as mentioned above, it also serves as a museum.

All in all, I love visiting old monasteries, as I believe they are a great insight into the history and culture of civilization. The belief systems of a culture tell us so much about the daily lives and habits of its inhabitants, so it’s always an insightful adventure when I get to discover these religious structures. And I strongly encourage you to do the same. If you find yourself in Southern Germany, I can’t recommend a visit to both Blaubeuren and to Wiblingen Abbey near Ulm enough! They were too culturally fascinating places that are well worth an adventure to see!