St. Michael Abbey Ruins

Heidelberg, Germany

The Monastery of St. Michael on the Heiligenberg (Saints" Mountain), was a branch of the nearby Lorsch Abbey. The ruined complex that can be seen today was built beginning in 1023. Within the nave are traces of the Roman temple of Mercury. The monastery was abandoned in the 16th century.

The first mention of the monastery is in the Lorsch codex, from the 12th century, which dates the founding of the monastery to 870. No remains of an earlier monastery have been found, so this might have been merely an estimate of the founding.

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Details

Founded: 1023
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Ottonian Dynasty (Germany)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

LeAnn Lemmons (7 months ago)
It's such a lovely place to visit, lots of trails to wander around.
Gwydhar Gebien (10 months ago)
I lived finding and walking around these ruins but it was a HIKE to get up there. Not sure Google sent me a very good route as in places it was steep, Rocky and occasionally obscured by fallen trees. I also walked a full lap around the site before finding the gate. Wish I'd been able to enjoy it longer, but by then I really needed a bathroom. There was a gasthaus that let me use the facilities for .50 cents as I wasn't a guest (gladly paid). They also had some nice postcards.
Mia (2 years ago)
Very nice to visit. Don't miss it if you've come to see Thingstatte!! It's literally next door and worth it ;)
Qing Cheng (2 years ago)
We went up there late and only found it was closed at 4pm on a weekday. However we found there is an "open" entrance to the left where the fence was broken by someone (obviously for quite awhile). We entered and enjoyed our time there without other tourist.
Robert (2 years ago)
This location is situated high up on a mountain, accessible either by walking or by car, offering a scenic route. There is no entrance fee, and there is a small restaurant nearby with friendly staff who can provide refreshments after the walk. If you enjoy exploring historic areas while taking leisurely walks, I highly recommend this place if you are in the city.
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