The Abbey of Marienberg

Marienberg was founded by the Churrätian barons of Tarsap. Originally, they probably wanted a house monastery near their castle Tarsap near Schuls in the Engadine. However, this first monastery foundation was not blessed with luck, strong resistance in the population and a fire eventually led to the relocation to the neighboring Vinschgau. In 1149, the monastery was relocated to its current location, with the building material mostly coming from the neighboring castle Kastellaz. This also belonged to the lords of Tarsap, who had it demolished in favor of the monastery. Located at an altitude of 1,340 m, Marienberg was and is the highest Benedictine monastery in Europe.

The first monks came from the Bavarian Benedictine monastery Ottobeuern to Marienberg. The oldest part of the monastery complex is the crypt, consecrated in 1156; the monastery church was consecrated in 1201. In the following centuries, the monastery was repeatedly in conflict with secular rulers and with the diocese of Chur, and the Engadine War and the peasant uprisings at the beginning of the 16th century also affected the abbey. It was not until the 17th century that Abbot Matthias Lang initiated a heyday with internal reforms and construction measures. The Romanesque church was baroqueized and a humanistic gymnasium was established in Meran. Marienberg thus became the spiritual and cultural center of the Vinschgau.

This phase of prosperity lasted until the end of the 18th century. It was only thanks to the Meran Gymnasium that it escaped closure by Emperor Joseph I. However, it could no longer resist the upheavals of the Napoleonic era, and in 1807 the monastery was abolished by the Bavarian government and part of the property was sold. It was not until 1816 that the abbey was restored.

Today, Marienberg is still a spiritual center for the upper Vinschgau and is also open to visitors. Particularly worth seeing is the crypt with its unique Romanesque frescoes. The paintings were created around 1175 and are of exceptional quality and expressiveness. A museum has now been set up in the former economic tract of the abbey, which shows objects related to the history and everyday life of the monastery as well as an impressive collection of minerals. In the monastery shop, you can buy arts and crafts and regional delicacies.

January to March
Monday to Saturday from 13:00 to 16:00

April to October
Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00

Information at www.marienberg.it