Ettal, Germany

How I remember it .                 Andrea Griffini CC BY-SA30

This Benedictine foundation near Oberammergau dates from 1330. It was badly damaged during the Reformation, and survived the Thirty Years War.Then in 1744 the abbey and church were largely destroyed by a major fire. This led to a rebuild by Enrico Zuccalli, the Swiss Italian architect in Munich, who had studied with Bernini. Decorations were by Josef Schmutzer of the Wessobrunn School and altars and chancel by Johann Baptist Straub. The abbey was dissolved in 1803 and then the Benedictines returned in the early 20th century.

I first visited, hopping off a bus, in 1989, and returned in 1994.

The situation near the Bavarian Alps is stunning. There is an excellent bookshop, from which my Bavarian cookbook came! The monks also produce an enticing liqueur.

                                          This is great for getting the atmosphere

Excerpt from evening Vespers

                                                This 360 panorama makes me feel cold!