Kloster Holzen
The Monastry church in Holzen
God's house. Jewel. Landmark
Set on the solid foundations of the Karlsberg mountain you will find the Church of St. John the Baptist. The tower reaches high up towards the sky and offers views across the River Schmutter and across the Lech Valley. The interior of the monastery, which was consecrated in 1710, impresses with its detailed stucco, ceiling frescoes, reliquary altars and a Baroque high altar.
The centre of the stunningly decorated ceiling forms a large painting. It depicts the globe and on it the Holzen monastery church. Above it is the firmament. Kloster Holzen – between heaven and earth! This work of art depicts the natural interaction between spiritual and worldly things that influence life at Kloster Holzen now, and as it did then
Reflection & contemplation
Monastic peace
The whole landscape on the Karlsberg breathes friendly calm. You can let your thoughts run free during walks through the monastery grounds and take a contemplative break at the chapel and the Lourdes Grotto. The monastic baroque church is open for quiet contemplation, church concerts and church service visits, which take place every Sunday at 08.30 am.
A place to celebrate
You can also use the monastery church for your religious ceremonies, such as for weddings, communions or confirmations. The subsequent celebrations can take place in the monastery inn and at the Hotel Kloster Holzen. Ceremony, food, party and accommodation – all in one place and in unique surroundings.
Jesus of Holzen
A place of pilgrimage
From 1740 onwards, Holzen became a place of pilgrimage. The disignation of the believers journey was, and still is, the Infant Jesus of Holzen. The childish figure is clad in precious robes and stands on a side altar opposite the entrance. One of the Jacob's routes also leads directly past the Hotel Kloster Holzen.
A place for wishes and prayers
To the left of the side altar, in a small display case, there are some votive offerings that pilgrims often visit. Each of the pieces tells a story of wishes and prayers that have already been fulfilled. In addition: In order to tie in with earlier customs, Kloster Holzen has special pilgrim rooms available on request and on presentation of the pilgrim's identity card. You can get the pilgrim stamp at the hotel reception.
Contemplation and devotion around Holzen Monastery
Intimate places for contemplation and thought
The chapel on the south side of the monastery complex in modeled on the "Santa Casa" church in Loreto. The "Holy House", in which, according to legend, Mary grew up and where the angel announced to her that she would give birth to Jesus, was taken from Nazareth to Italy in the 13th century. "Santa Casa" helped the little town just south of Ascona to become the second most important place of pilgrimage in Italy.
At the front of the Holzen's Loreto Chapel is a small room with altar for contemplation. Behind it a staircase awaits visitors. In former times, the nuns climbed these stairs on their knees in prayer and remembrance of the sufferings of Christ.
Take just a few steps through the forest behind the monastery church and you will find yourself at another place with another great role model.
The grotto that has been set up here is reminiscent of the Grotto of Lourdes in southwest France, near which the Mother of God appeared to Bernadette Soubirous several times.
Lourdes later became an important place of pilgrimage after some miraculous healings and Bernadette was canonised.
Dominikus-Ringeisen-Werk
Foundation & Supporters
"Every human being is precious" is the mission statement of the Dominikus-Ringeisen-Foundation. Today this is the broad social consensus but at the end of the 19th century this was by no means the case.
The priest Dominikus Ringeisen lived and worked by this premise. From 1884 to 1904 he worked and campaigned for – along with the nuns and sisters of the St. Joseph Congregation – the interests and needs of people with disabilities.
To this day, members of the Dominikus-Ringeisen-Foundation carry out their work in his name on other locations.