"MARIA LAACH" Maria Laach by pepples46

Maria Laach Travel Guide: 48 reviews and 91 photos

Main Entrance of the Basilika - Maria Laach

the Monastary and...

the Benedictine Abbey 1093 -1250, german romanesque style, 2 central towers of the Basilica and 4 smaller Towers enhancing the imposing Main Entrance, the most splendid in the whole of Germany...maybe, I am a little bit bias here!
1112 it became a Benedictine Abbey and the Monastary was secularised during the times of the French Goverment in 1802
a fire destroyed the Monestary in 1850, after rebuilding by Jesuit's the Monks came back in 1900 and made it
a cultural and spiritual center, surrounded by peaceful forest, in a splendid enviroment on the southside of the Lake.

..... the Lake are bound together

the Abbey and the Lake

the Lake and the Benedictine Abbey are the Jewels of this Region...the Vulcan Eifel.
volcanic activities stopped around 11 000 years ago, some say it is just dormand. I always felt a great vibrancy when I was out and about on the Lake or the shores
the Crater Lake is very deep 55m, on over 320ha
and still hot magma down there in the Lake, gas bubbles surface quite frequently. and that is the danger of the Lake when having a swim, hot and cold patches and whirlepools you got to handle, some accidends, drownings occurred, locals mainly, they thought they know the Lake well, that was maybe not so... anyway, take care and use common sense.
I have been labouring over this intro now for quite a while.
when you know something for all your life, how do you actually talk about it?

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:this place is special

Intro Updated Aug 17, 2005
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Reviews (10)

overall view Sports & Outdoors (2)

just an overall view over the whole Lake, as described in the tip before, the crater lake offers quite some fine... more travel advice

old charm ..renovated Hotels (2)

well I never stayed in the Hotel, my own bed was only 6 km down the road. but I know the Landark accommodation from the... more travel advice

the Basilika Things to Do (3)

imposing, romanesque style overlooking the Lake at the south end, a place to reflect, meditate and praying. the Choir of... more travel advice

behind the gardens of the monestery - Maria Laach

harmonious whole Favorites (1)

the gardens and walkways around the Abbey, serenety, peace and quiet. although the Monks work hart on the fields and the... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
right in the Forest

Transportation (1)
Car/Motorhome

Travelogues (1)

Written Feb 4, 2004

1 photo

the beautiful Basilika

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Comments (30)

mvtouring Mar 16, 2007 at 5:27 AM Report Abuse

The abbey does remind one of Granada ;-)
tessy Oct 20, 2006 at 2:17 PM Report Abuse

da sollte ich unbedingt mal wieder hin, .... Wow, was fuer ein tolles Herbstbild vom See!!!!
Greybilby Sep 30, 2006 at 1:07 AM Report Abuse

stunning place and the basilika looks awesome. fantastic page matey
LOHRER Sep 4, 2006 at 9:11 PM Report Abuse

funny, I just finished my book about the german romanesque style where Maria Laach was shown as a fine example and you described it as 'harmonious whole' I like that. fine text and great pics Wal
robertgaz Jun 2, 2006 at 12:01 AM Report Abuse

The basilika here is a stunning piece of architecture // right again Wal... 2 tips already ;~)
hunterV Nov 3, 2005 at 12:36 PM Report Abuse

I am very glad I've been there, too!
Trekki Sep 29, 2005 at 12:08 AM Report Abuse

How beautiful the basilika is - you are right, very similar to Alhambra ! Had a good laugh reading your story about your job there :-)
mustertal Aug 17, 2005 at 7:08 AM Report Abuse

This looks like a must to see.
globetrott Jul 23, 2005 at 1:37 AM Report Abuse

an interesting page & a great abbey ! ...and a woman in the monk's cell ??? Brrrrrr.... Da bin ich im Frühjahr leider nur vorbeigefahren :-((
antistar Jun 27, 2005 at 2:43 PM Report Abuse

I came here from your home town because the lake looked so beautiful. Damned difficult to get to though! Maybe if I move up to the north-west I might get to see it....