Fields near the monastery of Andechs, Upper Bavaria
Although right now I am sitting on our family vineyard in Glenburn, Victoria, I have to post this little story and my impressions from a visit to the monastery of Andechs, Ammersee in Upper Bavaria. Maria and Christian took me there on a Sunday in early July. We drove up from Fischen. It was my very first visit to this famous place of worship and beer brewing. I will disappoint the wine freaks among you again but Andechs is not known for its wine but its beer.
Gate with beer mugs on the way from the car park to the monastery
When you walk up to the monastery church from the car park, you pass the above gate, with one litre beer mugs above your head. “Look up folks”, it says, this is what you are aspiring to: litres and litres of Germany’s finest beers.
The church
The church is, as many churches in Bavaria, built in Baroque style. I found it very pretty.
The inside of the church
Carl Orff is buried here
Who does not know the “Carmina Burana” and the famous composer, Carl Orff who was a native of Diessen, Ammersee just a couple of kilometres from here. He is buried in Andechs. I liked the inscription of the stone: Summus finis, which freely translates as “everything ends”.
Music festivals honouring Carl Orff are looming
Maria and Christian were to attend the music festival that very evening, while I had to catch my plane back to Bangkok. I would have loved to join them and give Bangkok a miss, but…
Droves of people came to enjoy lunch at Andechs
The monasteries “Gastwirtschaft”, Bavarian country inn style was full of people. We had, of course, lunch there. Christian and I, we shared a pork knuckle (they are just too big). A litre of dark brown beer was just the right drink to wash it down.
Pork knuckle divided into two
I just love to eat pork knuckle. It was delicious. What a great visit that was. I am so grateful to my friends for taking me to Andechs.
A Bavarian litre mug
Andechs is a great place. If you are travelling in Bavaria this summer, please budget some time for a visit. it is definitely worth it.
The Man from Mosel River 
Years later I searched for Christian’s address and found your entry. Tomorrow I will travel to Munich and Herrsching to check location for a family meeting. Hubertus