Scheyern Abbey
A Benedictine abbey in Bavaria whose historic religious, educational, cultural, and brewing activities are centered in Scheyern.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Scheyern Abbey, or Kloster Scheyern, is a Benedictine monastery in the municipality of Scheyern in Bavaria, Germany. It is both a religious institution and a historically recognizable monastery complex associated with the Wittelsbach dynasty, the Bavarian Benedictine tradition, pilgrimage, education, scholarship, and beer production. The present abbey occupies the former Scheyern castle, which was transferred to the monastic community in 1119 after the community had moved through earlier foundations at Bayrischzell, Fischbachau, and Petersberg. The original community was established around 1077 by Countess Haziga of Aragon, the wife of Otto II, Count of Scheyern, whose family became the ancestors of the Wittelsbachs. The first monks came from Hirsau Abbey and were connected with the reforming monastic culture associated with Hirsau. The early Bayrischzell site proved unsuitable, particularly because of water-supply difficulties, prompting successive relocations. In 1119, after Haziga moved from Burg Scheyern to Burg Wittelsbach, the old castle became the community's permanent home and the monastery became independent of Hirsau. Scheyern developed as a Wittelsbach family monastery and served as a burial place for members of the dynasty until 1253. Its religious importance is also tied to a relic of the True Cross, recorded as being in the abbey's possession since 1180. This relic helped make Scheyern a pilgrimage destination, alongside the abbey's dedication to the Holy Cross and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. By the thirteenth century, the monastery had acquired a reputation for its scriptorium and school of illumination, indicating that its role extended beyond worship into manuscript production and learning. The abbey suffered heavily during the Thirty Years' War. Although it was later refurbished in the Rococo style during the eighteenth century, it did not experience the same scale of Baroque rebuilding as several other Bavarian monasteries. The Bavarian secularization process brought a decisive interruption: the monastery came under territorial administration in 1802 and was dissolved in 1803. Its buildings were sold and changed ownership several times. Scheyern was re-established in 1838 under King Ludwig I of Bavaria and resettled by monks from Metten Abbey. It recovered abbey status in 1843. The church, which serves both the monastic community and the parish, was restored between 1876 and 1878 in a Romanesque style. In the modern period, the abbey has maintained religious and cultural functions, including a Byzantine Institute specializing in the works of Saint John of Damascus and historical connections with Hungary. It remains part of the Bavarian Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation. Education has been another important activity. A grammar school was opened soon after the nineteenth-century restoration, but religious-order schools were closed by the Nazi government in 1939. A humanistic Gymnasium reopened after the Second World War, later moving to Pfaffenhofen and being replaced in the abbey's educational complex by a residential vocational upper-secondary institution. The Staatliche Berufsoberschule opened in 1976 and continued as an educational presence associated with the site. Scheyern is also known for its brewery, which forms part of the abbey's public identity and visitor appeal. Available reference material identifies beer brewing as an activity of the monastery, but does not provide sufficiently detailed information about individual beer labels, production volumes, ownership arrangements, or export markets. The abbey complex additionally includes notable ecclesiastical architecture, pilgrimage facilities, historical collections, and a tower with fourteen ringing bells and two bourdon bells. The largest, the Sacred Heart bell, is described as the largest cast-steel bell in Bavaria. Today Scheyern combines active Benedictine life with heritage, parish, pilgrimage, educational, cultural, and hospitality-related functions.
History
Scheyern Abbey traces its institutional origins to a monastic community founded around 1077 at Bayrischzell by Haziga of Aragon, wife of Otto II, Count of Scheyern. The first monks came from Hirsau Abbey, reflecting the reform movement associated with Hirsau. Because the Bayrischzell site had practical shortcomings, including water-supply problems, the community moved to Fischbachau in 1087 and then to Petersberg in 1104. The decisive transfer occurred in 1119. After Haziga left Burg Scheyern for Burg Wittelsbach, the former Scheyern castle, whose origins reach back to approximately the tenth century, was given to the monks at Petersberg. The monastery became Scheyern Abbey and was no longer dependent on Hirsau. It developed into a Wittelsbach family monastery, with the dynasty retaining the office of Vogt and using the abbey as a burial site until 1253. The abbey's religious significance was strengthened by its possession, from at least 1180, of a relic of the True Cross said to have come from Jerusalem. Together with the dedication to the Holy Cross and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the relic made Scheyern an important pilgrimage center. The monastery also became a center of learning and manuscript culture. By the thirteenth century, its scriptorium and school of illumination had gained a regional reputation. Scheyern experienced severe disruption during the Thirty Years' War. In the eighteenth century the complex was refurbished in the Rococo style, although its architectural renewal was less extensive than the Baroque transformations undertaken at some other Bavarian monasteries. Secularization ended the first monastic period. The monastery came under territorial governance on 15 November 1802 and was dissolved on 21 March 1803. Its buildings were sold and passed through several owners. The institution was restored in 1838 during the reign of Ludwig I of Bavaria. Monks from Metten Abbey re-established the community, and Scheyern regained abbey status in 1843. Between 1876 and 1878, the church was restored in a Romanesque style. The church continued to serve both the Benedictine community and the local parish. The restored abbey resumed educational work. A grammar school opened soon after the nineteenth-century re-establishment, but all schools operated by religious orders were closed in 1939. After the Second World War, Scheyern hosted a humanistic Gymnasium. That school was eventually replaced when the Schyrengymnasium was transferred to Pfaffenhofen in 1970. The abbey then established a residential vocational upper-secondary school, the Staatliche Berufsoberschule, which opened in 1976 and remained associated with the site. In the modern period, Scheyern has continued as a Benedictine house within the Bavarian Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation. Its activities include worship, parish service, pilgrimage, education, historical and theological scholarship, and cultural preservation. The Byzantine Institute at Scheyern specializes in the works of Saint John of Damascus, and the abbey maintains historical connections with Hungary. The abbey is also associated with brewing. Beer production contributes to its public identity as a traditional Bavarian monastery and supports the site's hospitality and visitor-facing profile. The available reference material does not establish a complete chronology of the brewery, detailed product portfolio, commercial structure, or distribution footprint, so those aspects cannot be specified reliably here. The monastery complex includes a bell tower containing fourteen ringing bells and two bourdon bells. The largest is the Sacred Heart bell, described in the reference material as having a diameter of 237.8 centimeters and being the largest cast-steel bell in Bavaria. The oldest identified bell was cast in 1816. Scheyern therefore represents a continuing combination of Benedictine religious life, dynastic and regional history, pilgrimage, education, cultural scholarship, architectural heritage, and monastic brewing.
- 1976
Opening of the vocational upper-secondary school
[1]The Staatliche Berufsoberschule opened at the monastery as a residential vocational education institution.
- 1939
Closure of schools run by religious orders
[1]The abbey's schools were closed as part of the wider closure of schools operated by religious orders.
- 1878
Completion of church restoration
[1]A restoration undertaken from 1876 to 1878 returned the church to a Romanesque-oriented appearance.
- 1843
Return to abbey status
[1]The restored foundation regained the status of an abbey.
- 1838
Re-establishment of the monastery
[1]The abbey was restored under Ludwig I of Bavaria and resettled by monks from Metten Abbey.
- 1803
Dissolution during Bavarian secularization
[1]Scheyern Abbey was dissolved on 21 March as part of the secularization of Bavaria, and its buildings were sold.
Founding of the original community
[1]Haziga of Aragon established the monastic community at Bayrischzell, beginning the institutional history that later led to Scheyern Abbey.
Move to Fischbachau
[1]The community moved from Bayrischzell to Fischbachau after practical problems made the first site unsuitable.
Move to Petersberg
[1]The monks relocated again, settling at Petersberg before the eventual transfer to Scheyern.
Establishment at Scheyern
[1]The former Burg Scheyern was given to the monks, creating the abbey's permanent historical base and ending its dependence on Hirsau.
Products and positioning
A historic Bavarian Benedictine abbey whose identity combines monastic heritage, pilgrimage, education, scholarship, cultural preservation, and traditional abbey brewing.
Brewery product
Scheyern Abbey beer
Beer brewed in association with Scheyern Abbey is a major part of the site's modern public identity. It represents the traditional connection between Benedictine monasteries and brewing in Bavaria and complements the abbey's religious, heritage, hospitality, and visitor activities. The available reference material confirms the brewery association but does not provide reliable details about individual labels, recipes, launch dates, or distribution.
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