The Romanesque basilica is part of the Benedictine Abbey of Wechselburg, a priory of the Ettal Abbey.
The atmosphere in the approximately 800-year-old walls by candlelight is always particularly moving. The monastery was founded in 1168 by Dedo von Rochlitz-Groitzsch as Augustinian monastery Zschillen, the construction of the basilica is estimated to the year 1200. Particularly interesting is the artful rood screen from the 13th century. After more than 400 years of interruption of monastic life since secularization, a new Benedictine monastery was founded in 1992 by members of the monastery Ettal.

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Martin

June 15, 2020

Hiking

Wechselburg Monastery, formerly known as Zschillen Monastery, is a Benedictine monastery in Wechselburg in Saxony. It belongs to the Bavarian Benedictine Congregation. The collegiate church of the monastery, as a late Romanesque basilica, is one of the best preserved large Romanesque buildings east of the Saale. The rood screen is one of the most outstanding examples of German art from the 13th century.
The pilgrimage church in Wechselburg is now officially the first papal "Basilica minor"

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Wanderhase🐰

March 10, 2023

Hiking

Porphyry tuff (petrified lava ash) from Rochlitzer Berg was used for construction. A sign of the artistry of that time is the gallery column, carved out of a stone. The church is built as a three-aisled pillar basilica - high central nave and lower side aisles. The floor plan is in the shape of a cross. There was only a groined vault above the high choir and the gallery. The rest of the room had a flat ceiling.

Benedictine monks have lived in Wechselburg since 1993. As a priory, you belong to the Ettal Benedictine Abbey.

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Informations

Elevation 260 m

Weather

Sunday 15 March

8°C

1°C

72 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

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Location: Wechselburg, Mittelsachsen, Saxony, Germany

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Basilica of the Holy Cross, Wechselburg

1. Great trails along the Mulde – Luther Trail along the Mulde River loop from Rochlitz

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