Assumption Abbey Roman Catholic Benedictine Monastery
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Senior-FriendlyIndoorCity LandmarkFreeSlow-PacedHistoric BuildingArt
Overview
Ettal Abbey (German: Kloster Ettal) is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Ettal close to Oberammergau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. With a community (as of 2005) of more than 50 monks, with another five at Wechselburg, the Abbey is one of the largest Benedictine houses and is a major attraction for visitors.
Practical Info
Mon8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
Tue8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
Wed8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
Thu8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
Fri8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
Sat8:00 – 11:30 AM, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
Sun1:00 – 3:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeOpen year-round, but weekday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM provide peak interior aesthetics. High morning sun streams brilliantly through the towering arched stained-glass windows of this grand Bavarian-style Abbey, perfectly illuminating the ornate Romanesque nave and carved altars in total serene silence.
Getting ThereSuperbly positioned at 418 Richardton Street in downtown Richardton. Driving is completely seamless: take Interstate 94 to Exit 85, steer north onto ND-8 N (Richardton St) for approximately 1 mile, and the monastery's soaring brick twin towers will appear clearly on your left with extensive, free curbside parallel parking blocks.
Travel Tips
- The abbey remains an active Benedictine monastery for cloistered monks; maintaining absolute silence and removing hats is mandatory inside, and revealing attire or flip-flops is barred.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Except for the public nave and bookshop, all wings designated as 'Monastery Private' or 'Cloister' are legally off-limits to visitors; photography and trespassing in these zones are banned.
- During scheduled monastic prayer sessions and active liturgical masses, using camera shutters or moving around with selfie sticks is forbidden; violators will be escorted out immediately.
Reviews
Positive
- A magnificent historic architectural wonder in the ND plains! The twin-spire brick abbey is grand, offering immense visual impact.
- An active Benedictine monastery; the immaculate vaulted ceilings and century-old stained glass windows offer deep, serene calm.
- The resident monks are gentle and polite, guiding you through their prideful historic underground wine cellars with exceptional value.
- The grounds are free to the public, packing massive accessible lots and clear signs—a perfect quiet sanctuary on long road trips.
Heads up
- As an active house of prayer, major cloisters and library loops are restricted to active monks, blocking tourist self-guided access.
- They enforce strict modest dress and quiet etiquette codes inside; camera flashes are banned, making it rigid for active young children.
- The property has zero snack kiosks or themed gift stores on-site, completely lacking interactive multilingual multimedia guide tools.
- If you arrive during official high mass or scheduled solemn liturgical hours, the main nave shuts to casual tourists, causing you to miss out.