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BAROQUE IN BAVARIA
Ettal Abbey Basilica

Situated in a narrow mountain valley of the Alpine Oberbayern foothills on the road from Garmish-Partenkirchen to Oberammergau one comes upon the still active monastery at the Basilica of Ettal Abbey, a magnificent example of Southern Bavarian baroque style art and architecture set against the jutting rocky tree brushed slopes of the Alps where even nuns can be tourists. Originally established in 1330 as a Bentictine Abbey by Kaiser Louis IV, Duke of Bavaria and emperor of the German nation, who was at odds with the pope in Rome and his northern Italian city-state neighbors. The castle-like church remained rather secluded until the 1700’s when pilgrims brought more economy and a school, The “Knights Academy” was established. The façades and interiors of the Basilica were reconstructed in the ornate baroque style popular in Southern Germany. The 12 sided, domed main hall is a glitter with gold and marble, including a near all gold gilt Pulpit and 18th Century masterwork art. The Ettal Madonna with an honored place on the high altar was brought from Italy (most probably from Pisa) by the emperor and is said to be miraculous and the source of the 14th Century German emperor’s claim to Holy status.

The original gothic style which housed the early monks and a community of knights similar in structure to the Teutonic Knights, was constructed by artisans from a communty of stone masons from the lodge at the Cathedral of Regensburg which can still be found in the portal and the flying buttresses which support the main dome.

Ettal is about an hour plus drive south from Munich and the region offers a variety of beautiful Alpine style hotels and bed & breakfasts. Directly across the street is the Post Hotel (Gastehaus der Post) and there are many other small villages in this popular touring area which is about a half hour drive from King Ludwig's Neuschwantsein Castle in Schwangau (see German King's Fantasy Castle). © Bargain Travel Europe

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Find the best hotel deals in Bavarian Alps

SEE ALSO:

MAD KING LUDVIG'S PLEASURE PALACE
Schloss Linderhoff

ART AND AUGUSTINER
Castle Art Museum in the Bavarian Alps

GESUNDHEIT AND CULTURE IN THE NUDE DAY SUN
Munich's Englischer Garten

A TOUR WALK AROUND MUNICH
From Beer for Breakfast to the Brauhaus After Dark

HAMBURG'S LANDMARK CHURCH ST. MICHAELIS
If it's Baroque it must be "Michel"

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