Magnificent Baroque organ with golden decorations and numerous pipes in a richly decorated church.

Close to HeavenUpper Swabia-Allgäu: Ochsenhausen Monastery

31.12.20256 min. read timeby Hirsch & Greif

Artistic treasures, celestial music, and sparkling night skies - the Upper Swabian Baroque Route merges culture and landscape to create memorable escapes. Discover Ochsenhausen Monastery as we take you along with us on our guided tour.

Depth and SplendourA Baroque Materpiece

Sometimes you need a cultural escape from everyday life - and Ochsenhausen delivers. Here, the Baroque monastery dazzles with grand architecture and organ music that touches the soul. When the final notes fade away, another pleasure awaits: peaceful paths along the Krummbach Stream. Here, culture and nature wander side by side, inviting you to slow down and savour the moment.Our journey leads us straight into the heart of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route - a richly immersive experience featuring over 50 Baroque highlights, which unfold across four routes and 860 km, all alive with history, splendour, and delightful surprises. Whether you stroll freely or seek out signature highlights, each stage of the journey is a feast for the senses.Our journey begins and reveals just how charming culture can be.

Learn more about Ochsenhausen Monastery

View of the interior of a Baroque church with ornate ceiling frescoes, while a person plays a large organ.

Splendid Sound in Ochsenhausen

A superlative organ in the Baroque cultural landscape of Upper Swabia.

Artistic Delights in Upper Swabia–AllgäuShort & Sweet

Baroque Brilliance

Culture lovers should circle 2026 on their calendars as the Upper Swabian Baroque Route celebrates its 60th anniversary. This milestone year brings Baroque art, music, and architecture vividly to life through a vibrant program of festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and immersive experiences - showcasing Baroque splendour from fresh and inspiring perspectives.

Sublime Sounds

The legendary Gabler Organ in the St. George’s Monastery Church is far more than an instrument - it is a sensory masterpiece. Its powerful, celestial sound bridges heaven and earth, offering a moving experience that reveals the emotional depth and beauty of the baroque era.

Nature Meets Heritage

Ready for a moment of calm after all that magnificence? The gently winding Krummbach Stream offers a peaceful retreat, perfect for a scenic walk infused with history. Here, refined Baroque heritage blends seamlessly with unspoiled nature - inviting you to pause, breathe, and fully immerse yourself.

A Crescendo of EmotionsThe Famous Gabler Organ of St. George’s Monastery Church

We are captivated by the Baroque treasures of Upper Swabia. Stepping into St. George’s monastery church, the atmosphere in the soaring nave is instantly palpable. High above, organist Thomas Fischer commands the famed Gabler Organ with its 3,174 pipes.

„This is a superlative organ in the Baroque cultural landscape of Upper Swabia.“

Thomas Fischer, Church Musician

As the first notes ring out, the music sweeps along the frescoed ceilings and white stucco walls, and cascades down to the chancel and pews below. The sound fills the space effortlessly. Joseph Gabler built the organ between 1728 and 1734 for his hometown of Ochsenhausen at a time when the originally Gothic church was being transformed into a Baroque masterpiece. “This instrument offers an extraordinary range of timbres,” says Thomas, the deanery’s church musician, “Especially among the string and flute registers, available in countless nuances.”

Tip from Organist Thomas Fischer

To truly experience the Gabler organ, plan a visit during the Organ Summer when the instrument reveals its full brilliance. Or join a Sunday service at 10:30 am to enjoy its majestic sound alongside a spiritual experience.

Looking UpThe Magnificent Frescoes of Ochsenhausen Monastery

After a short organ concert, we meet librarian and tour guide Andreas Kreissig in the former Benedictine monastery. He leads us through the building’s rich Baroque details and the library with its valuable historic volumes.

„My favourite place is the library; its wealth of knowledge is immense.“

Andreas Kreissig, librarian and tour guide

He explains that the former Benedictine monastery was once politically self-governing, making the Abbot not only a spiritual leader but also a Sovereign Prince. Illusionistic frescoes above the Fishermen’s Staircase, for example, create a remarkable sense of depth and space. We gaze upwards, captivated, before continuing to thon via the historic observatory. Music plays: The State Music Academy has, for over 40 years, been housed here. Behind rehearsal-room doors, sounds of young musicians practicing, blending history, art, and music in perfect harmony.

Tip or Your Visit to Ochsenhausen Monastery

Be sure to pause in the refectory - the Baroque dining hall is a feast for the eyes. Once, monks dined beneath the sweeping frescoes overhead; today, musicians, teachers, and staff gather. And you’re right in the midst of it all - almost as if you’ve been invited to the table.

Celestial SkiesA Visit to the Historic Observatory

The Benedictine monks in Ochsenhausen were scholars as well as men of faith and built an observatory in the monastery’s attic to study the heavens. Some monastery tours even lead visitors up there to learn how celestial bodies were observed at the time. The monks peered through a hatch in the domed roof using a telescope with tenfold magnification and could follow the movement of the stars thanks to the roof and viewing aperture being mounted on a circular gear – meaning they could be rotated – an ingenious mechanism, sadly no longer in use today.Good to know:
To truly explore Ochsenhausen Monastery, curiosity alone isn’t enough - you’ll need a guided tour. Schedule your tour in advance - a little planning goes a long way if you want to experience every highlight to the fullest.

Learn more about Ochsenhausen Monastery

Person looking at a large historical telescope in an observatory with white walls and wooden stairs.

Early spirit of research

The old instrument with which monks once curiously explored the heavens still remains in the historic observatory in Ochsenhausen.

Luftaufnahme des barocken Klosters Ochsenhausen mit roten Dächern, umgeben von grünen Feldern und Wäldern in Oberschwaben.

Magnificent church interior with Baroque ceiling frescoes and a richly decorated organ at the end of the nave.

Detail of a Baroque church decoration with a white angel and golden ornaments in front of a ceiling with a colorful fresco.

Yellow baroque monastery church with white columns and a domed tower, surrounded by green meadows and trees under a blue sky.

Radiance of faith

Ochsenhausen Monastery is a reflection of ecclesiastical power.

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Time in NatureWander along the Krummbach Stream

After all that Baroque splendour, we’re drawn to the tranquillity of the surrounding woodland, and a stroll along the secluded Krummbach Stream – that once supplied the monastery with water but today offers a refresh retreat. It meanders quietly through a peaceful grove, still whispering its stories. While the monks once walked here in meditation, we choose to pause on a small bridge, dip our feet in the cool water, and savour the silence. Even in this simple way, it’s easy to feel how closely nature and spirituality are intertwined.Hiking Tip:
The accessible path along the Krummbach stretches just under 1.5 km - perfect for a leisurely stroll immersed in nature. Those seeking a longer adventure can extend the route, though parts may be less accessible. Pilgrims often walk here to blend nature with reflection, making it a journey that moves not just the legs, but the mind and spirit as well.

Two people are sitting on a wooden footbridge over a stream in a green forest, dipping their feet in the water.

A Heavenly GetawayThe Swabian Baroque Route Can Be Experienced All Year-Round

At the end of our journey, we sit together and let the day’s impressions settle - realising it was far more than a simple day trip. What stayed with us most was the perfect combination: breathtaking Baroque art, an almost private organ concert with Thomas Fischer, and the serene beauty of the Krummbach stream. A harmonious experience that lingers in our memory.And because culture lovers are rarely satisfied for long, we’re already planning our next adventure… Perhaps a visit to Weingarten Abbey, where another Gabler organ promises more heavenly melodies, or to Bad Schussenried Monastery, where the Baroque library hall is a place where even the books whisper in reverent awe.

Travel Tips for Culture Enthusiasts

Whether celebrating 60 years or 600, the Upper Swabian Baroque Route is far from a one-time wonder - it’s a perennial favourite for art and culture lovers alike. Over 50 Baroque highlights reveal the vibrancy of an era that beautifully blends joie de vivre with fleeting moments of wonder. The best part? Many of these sites still resonate today - not with showy extravagance, but with profound emotion. Experiences you’ll want to repeat again and again.

Travelling along the Upper Swabian Baroque RouteFAQ for Planning Your Vacation

What is the Upper Swabian Baroque Route?

The Upper Swabian Baroque Route is one of Germany’s most stunning scenic routes - and a true delight for culture enthusiasts. Spanning roughly 860 km, it guides travellers to over 50 Baroque treasures, from grand monasteries and whimsical castles to quaint village churches. Beyond the 370 km main route, there are also southern, western, and eastern loops. Towns like Ulm, Ochsenhausen, Bad Schussenried, Weingarten, and Biberach lie directly along the way. And the best part? The Baroque Route is not just a special treat during its 2026 anniversary year celebrations - it’s a year-round journey, particularly magical in spring or autumn, when culture and nature shine in perfect harmony.

What Are the Highlights of Ochsenhausen Monastery?

At Ochsenhausen Monastery, Baroque splendour meets musical brilliance. The renowned Gabler organ still fills St. George’s monastery church with powerful, moving sound, evoking both goose-bumps and a sense of history. Everywhere you look, frescoes adorn the ceilings, staircases, and halls - a feast for the eyes. Those reaching for the stars, will appreciate the Baroque observatory that awaits in the attic - a historic site of astronomical research, complete with a rotating dome and telescope. A visit here is a perfect blend of culture, music, and the cosmos.

What Purpose Did the Krummbach Stream Serve for the Ochsenhausen Monastery?

What 2026 Anniversary Events Are Planned on the Upper Swabian Baroque Route?

There will be celebrations all year-round! The Upper Swabian Baroque Route invites you to festivities, concerts, and guided tours that bring Baroque art and culture vividly to life. The atmosphere reaches its peak during Baroque Week at the start of August, when music, architecture, and joie de vivre come together in a dazzling celebration. Mark it in your calendar and plan a truly cultural holiday!

Where Can I Stay Overnight along the Upper Swabian Baroque Route?

Whether you prefer a family hotel or a cosy guesthouse, the Baroque Route offers plenty of welcoming accommodations - many of which have the AusZeit Card that gives you free admission, discounts, and free use of public transportation. Active travellers and spontaneous adventurers will also find numerous camping options, ideal for those who want to explore culture and nature with complete flexibility.