The magnificent basilica of St. Alexander and Theodor belongs to the Benedictine Abbey of Ottobeuren and is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in southern Germany.

Translated by Google •

Paul

April 28, 2025

Basilica of St. Alexander and St. Theodore, Ottobeuren
The magnificent basilica, dedicated to the two Roman martyrs Alexander (162) and Theodore (306), is certainly one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in southern Germany. With its two 82-meter-high onion domes, it stands on a gently rising ridge west of the market square, visible from afar above the valley of the western Günz River.
Due to its dominant, free position within the entire building complex, the basilica plays an undeniable presiding role. This concept of placing the church in front of the monastery was not, however, an Ottobeuren invention. Rather, it can be traced back to the famous Swabian architectural theorist Joseph Furtenbach, who published it in 1628 in his work "Architectura Civilis" as the ideal form for a women's monastery. Other monasteries were also built according to this pattern: Kempten in 1651, Seedorf/CH in 1682, Obermarchtal in 1686, Holzen in 1696, Klosterwald in 1714, Sießen in 1716, and Fiecht/Tyrol in 1707.
The foundation stone was laid on September 27, 1737, at the present main portal. During the reigns of Abbots Rupert Neß and Anselm Erb, it was built as a monastery church from 1737 to 1766 by Simpert Kraemer (until 1748) and Johann Michael Fischer. The very rich late-Bavarian furnishings include dome and ceiling frescoes and altarpieces by Johann Jakob and Franz Anton Zeiller from Tyrol, stucco figures by Johann Joseph Christian, and stucco work by Johann Michael Feuchtmayer the Younger. It boasts two widely renowned Baroque choir organs by Karl Joseph Riepp: the four-manual Trinity Organ with 47 stops and the two-manual Holy Spirit Organ with 27 stops, both with a French sound. The choir stalls are by Martin Hermann (carpentry) and Johann Joseph Christian (reliefs). The focal point of the church is the Romanesque crucifix (ca. 1220). The church's unusual north-south orientation is due to its location within the overall complex, whose floor plan is in the shape of a cross. In 1926, the monastery church was elevated to a Papal Basilica/Basilica Minor by Pope Pius XI.
Text / Source: Benedictine Abbey of Ottobeuren, Sebastian-Kneipp-Str. 1, Ottobeuren
abtei-ottobeuren.de/content/klosteranlage/die-basilika

Translated by Google •

Heinz

February 15, 2018

All information here:
abtei-ottobeuren.de/pages/home/unser-kloster.php

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Elevation 660 m

Weather

Today

Friday 31 October

15°C

7°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Ottobeuren, Unterallgäu, Allgäu, Swabia, Bavaria, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Motzabach Riverside Trail

Root Path with Wooden Railing (Allgäu)

Geologische Orgeln (Nagelfluh Rock Formations)

View of Theinselberg

Günztal Cycle Path

Levada-Inspired Forest Path, Allgäu

Kneipp Tretanlage Eldern

Marktplatz Ottobeuren

Schöner Wiesenpfad im Günztal bei Ottobeuren

Klosterwald Monastery

Schachen Pond

Bannwald Forest Trail Ottobeuren

Basilica of St. Alexander and St. Theodor, Ottobeuren

1. Glücksplaneten (Happy planet) trail - explore the solar system: Glücksweg in Ottobeuren

2. German Levada – Kneipp Facility, Ottobeuren loop from Niederdorf

3. Kneipp Facility Ottobeuren – German Levada loop from Ottobeuren

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️