The monastery of Schäftlarn

The monastery of Schäftlarn near Munich/Bavaria was founded around 762 in all probability by the cleric Waltrich with the cooperation of Duke Tassilo III. The first monks came frome the Cathedral Monastery of Freising. In the tenth century the monastery was turned into a house for lay canons. Monastic life was revivied in Schäftlarn, when Bishop Otto of Freising called the Premonstratensians from Ursberg to take over the house. The right of pontifical privileges was granted to the Provost by Pope Clement VIII in 1598. Schäftlarn reached a high point in the cultivation of arts in the eighteenth century.

Viscardi built the monastery buildings from 1702 to 1707. The church tower was erected in 1710 to 1712 and the foundation stone for the new monastery church was laid in 1733. The work was directed by the architect J.F. Cuvillies from 1733 to 1740. In that latter year the work had to be discontinued for finacial reasons but could be resumed once more in 1751 under the direction of the architects J.G. Gunetzrhainer and J.M. Fischer. The frescoes are the work of J.B. Zimmermann from 1754 to 1755 and he also did the stucco decorations in 1756. The high altar and the tabernacle of 1755 are the work of J.B. Straub. The Secularization put an end to the Premonstratensian monastery in 1803. Among many other treasures of art, about 295 manuscripts, the oldest dating from the eight century, and 450 music-scripts were removed from Schäftlarn and came into the possession of the Government of Bavaria.

The monastic buildings passed through many hands until they were purchased in 1865 by King Ludwig I. As his last endowment, he estabilished in 1866 a Benedictine priory in Schäftlarn, which was elevated to the rank of abbey in 1910. In accordance with the wish of the founder, a boarding secondary school was opened at Schäftlarn and educational work with the boys and girls who attend this school and those who live there constitute the chief occupation of the monks.

 

THE ABBEY GARDEN

You should not miss to pay a visit to the abbey garden in pure rococo-style, where you can enjoy the symbolic and scenic beauty of a small spot of land that will remind  you of a natural paradise.

 

CONCERTS

For more than 35 years "Schäflarner Konzerte" have been offering to the public impressive soirees of music, featering famous soloists and an orchestra composed by musicians of the great munich concerts halls. Performances during summer-seasons (May to September).
For more information please consult the website.

 

Please feel free to contact us anytime, we welcome your feedback and inquiries. 

email: verwaltung@abtei-schaeftlarn.de