"Ilgen, a hamlet with a charming church" Top 5 Page for this destination Bavaria Things to Do Tip by Trekki

Not far away from Steingaden is another gem of Bavaria churches. From what I have read it was once built as a pestilence chapel; these had been built together with the cemeteries for pestilence victims way outside of towns. End of 17th century it was reconstructed by Johann Schmuzer from Wessobrunn, one of the central figures of Bavarian Baroque and Rococo church style. From the outside the church looks rather plain and nothing prepares you for the interior. It is only one room with side altars, but it is very much light and airy inside with the elaborate stucco work on the ceiling. Here no frescoes adorn the walls and ceiling but I didn’t miss them because the whole interior is harmonic the way it was made. Maybe it is the combination of the light colours and marvellous stucco with the pink and red marble (?) pillars of the altarpieces that makes this church so interesting to look at.
Note that it is not possible to go inside the main room, but only to look at the interior through the iron gate which is at the end of the main room, below the organ.

The setting of Ilgen church is very much idyllic and although the quickest way to reach the church is via road 17, I recommend driving the detour via Rottenbuch. This is road St. 2059, which is also the road from Steingaden to Wies church, then turn left (north) into road 23, direction Rottenbuch and at the crossing where Rottenbuch is to the right (east), turn left direction Ilgen, road St. 2058. The view when Ilgen church comes into sight is lovely and very much picturesque, especially with the cows on the meadows.

Location of Ilgen Church on Google Maps.

© Ingrid D., June 2012 (just in case, RickS, Facebook users or others come along and think they can steal texts or photos).