The history of the House of Andechs goes back to the 10th century, when the family’s founder brought back sacred reliquaries from the Holy Land to Andechs Castle above the eastern shore of Ammersee. As news spread of the reliquaries, people started making pilgrimages to the castle: after all, it was much closer than Rome.
Members of the religious Andechs family took part in the Third Crusade in 1180. After the last of the Andechs family died, the Wittelsbach royal family took possession of the castle and reliquaries and later constructed the church. The Benedictine monastery was built in 1450 on the site of the old castle on the Heiliger Berg or The Holy Mountain. After burning down in 1750 it was replaced by a beautiful Rococo church.
People still make the religious pilgrimage up to the beautiful monastery on the Holy Mountain, and after the long and arduous climb, they naturally feel like quenching their thirst with an Andechser beer, brewed in the monastery’s brewery, which was founded in 1455. This brewery is one of the few that is still monastic owned and run and has developed into a large and very modern brewery. The brewery, which also includes a schnapps and brandy distillery, along with the beer garden and restaurant actually provides the funding for the monastery. The monks breed their own livestock and make their own cheese, which is served in the restaurant and beer garden. You can enjoy the spectacular view of the village below while drinking the holy suds and feel good about yourself; the money you spend on every beer goes to a good cause. A good end to a day at Bavaria’s lakes.
Getting there Take S-Bahn N°5 to Herrsching and walk one hour up the mountain on a beautiful nature trail or take Bus N°956 or 951 up the mountain. Or take the A 96, exit Herrsching, follow the signs to Andechs. The monastery is open from 07:00 to 19:00.