St. Michael Basilica Altenstadt

The three-aisled Basilica of St. Michael is the landmark of the Upper Bavarian community of Altenstadt. It was built between 1170 and 1220 in the Alpine Romanesque style and is one of the few Romanesque churches in the Pfaffenwinkel, which is otherwise dominated by Baroque buildings. The vaulted ceiling of the basilica is also a rarity among the late Romanesque religious buildings in Bavaria. Guided tours are available upon registration. More information pg-altenstadt.org

The Basilica of St. Michael was built between 1180 and 1220 as the parish church of the original settlement of Schongau in Upper Bavaria, later called Altenstadt. The late Romanesque and very plain tuff stone building on the inside has been almost completely preserved or restored in its high medieval form. The basilica is the only arched sacral building of the late Romanesque period in Bavaria. The most famous and important work of art in the basilica is the "Great God of Altenstadt". The monumental, 3.20 m high Crucified from the 13th century, flanked by Mary and John, stands on the modern rood screen beam above the choir entrance.

The basilica in Altenstadt impresses with its Romanesque simplicity and furnishings. Ingeniously, as the population moved to Schongau, the church in the old town sank into insignificance - it was not decorated in the Baroque period, but was preserved in its original medieval state.