The Wieskirche (Pilgrimage Church of Wies) near the Bavarian village of Steingaden is a great side trip if you are vacationing in Munich and in the need for a road trip into the German countryside. The Wieskirche is about a 90-minute drive from Munich and is on the way to visit the Neu Schwanstein castle (~25 minutes). It’s also not a far jaunt from Oberammergau…only 25 minutes or so to the west.
Quick History
The period of the Wieskirche’s construction was from 1745 – 1754, built on a site commemorating a minor miracle. The church’s designation a “UNESCO World Heritage site” occurred in 1983.
Per the UNESCO site: “In the year 1734, a country girl from the town of Wies stole a statue of the scourged Christ from a nearby monastery. Four years later, so the legend goes, the statue miraculously reappeared wet with tears. To mark the occasion, a small chapel was built at the foot of the Alps, to the north of the present church. The chapel became an important pilgrim shrine. A priest from the monastery began building the new church in 1745”
Wieskirche, Germany | World Heritage – UNESCO Multimedia Archives
I first visited the Wies Kirche in 1983 as part of an itinerary that my high school German class took over the Easter break. Since then, I’ve visited the church 3 or four times to share the experience with family and friends.
The church is relatively unimposing on the outside. Its setting is idyllic. The church is in an open field with the Alps as a backdrop. There are few buildings around it to support the tourist attraction that it has become. There is a restaurant and a couple of stores/stands that sells snacks and souvenirs. Many of the souvenirs are of a religious nature, while still offering more secular collectibles.
The church’s interior is finished in the rococo style. Aside from the very ornate pulpits and altars, the walls of the church are plain. This approach was to reflect the mundanity of the realm of earth. The upper statues and ceiling, represent the glory of the church and the ornate realm of heaven.
I’m going to end the narrative here and use the rest of this post for the gallery. I hope you enjoy it and are as moved by the architecture and artistry as I am.
Travel well. Pursue Experiences
O.M.I.A.H