Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Andechs

Late afternoon in the beergarden of the Benedictine monastery of Andechs. Local Count Rasso (later Saint rasso) had started to gather relics in the Holy Land, that were kept here since 954. This treasure ("Heiltumsschatz") was increased and later even included the "Holy Prepuce". The first pilgrimage to Andechs is known from 1128, when this was still a castle. Soon after he first Benedictian monks settled here in 1455, a brewery was founded, to feed the pilgrims. Seen here is "Vollbier Hell" to the left and stronger "Doppelbock Dunkel" to the right. Here is more about the brewery (in German): www.andechs.de/kloster-andechs/die-klosterbrauerei.html Here are some shots I took here during previous visits: www.flickr.com/search/?w=42038165@N02&q=Andechs

A view from the "holy mountain of Andechs" south to the Alps. Luck left the House of Andechs Merania exactly on Juin 21, 1208. That day King Philip of Swabia was murdered during the wedding of his niece Beatrix and Otto VII of Andechs-Merania. Immidiatly the House of Andechs-Merania was under suspect - and witin short time lost all their land, properties and political power. Even the castle in Andechs got destroyed. Though it was soon known, that Otto VIII. of Wittelsbach stabbed the king, the House of Wittelsbach was the great winner of the situation. From that time on, they played a very important role as "The royal family of Bavaria". Current head today is Franz, Duke of Bavaria, born 1933, great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III.

The church, (re-) built (after a fire)in 1675. Andechs has a long history. Here was once the castle of the House of Andechs, strong supporters of Friedrich I (Barbarossa). He promoted them, so that within the 12th century, they entered the nobel premier league. The name changed to "Duke of Andechs-Merania" and their daughters married into the highest families. Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia and Saint Hedwig of Silesia belong to this family. Actually within the family tree are 28 (!) beatified and saint persons.

Andechs monastery is built on a steep mountain overlooking the Ammersee. It is probably the best known bavarian monastery, as it has a huge beer garden and an own brewery, producing 100.000 hectolitres of beer annualy. On summerdays thousands of tourists will be here - and have a beer, as 5% of the annual production is consumed on the spot. The visitors approaching from the car park will see this first: the restrooms. Just put the tip into the box..

The interior was decorated 1755 in rococo-style by the bavarian artist Johann Baptist Zimmermann. The treasure of the Andechs castle was a collection of relics (among them a "sanctum praeputium"), which very early attracted pilgrims. When the House of Andechs-Merania had gone under - this treasure was gone as well. It was retrieved (thanks to a mouse) concealed in the ground. Then the relics were taken to Munic, the Wittelsbach-capital. But they returned to Andechs, after a new church was built - and a monastery was founded. As pilgrims came again, the first pub here is recorded 1438. This monastery existed upto secularisation (1803), when the buildings were sold. Later the bavarian king Ludwig I bought them - and gave them back to the Benedictins in 1850. Since then it exists as a priory to the abbey St. Bonifaz (founded by Ludwig I) in Munich. The money spent for charity in Munich - is earned in the beer garden in Andechs! Cheers!

The snow finally melted on a hill overlooking the Ammersee. The town of Diessen is in the foreground. There is the steeple of the church, that belonged to an old abbey, and is now parish church. On the other side of the lake at the horizon, you see the benedictine Andechs abbey, known for it´s brewery and the wonderfull "beer-garden".. The Ammersee was a barrier for all medieval travel as it continues further south into a very swampy area. Ferries were used to cross the lake. One of the pickup points for passengers was the still existing village Wartaweil on the opposite side of the lake. "Wart a Weil" is bavarian language for "Wait A While". - - The snow was back next morning!