Tegernsee: Monastery History, Museums and Boat Tours

Monastery History and Museums

The former Benedictine monastery in the town of Tegernsee was founded in 746 and was once one of the most important monasteries in old Bavaria. Until 1803, St. Quirinus Parish Church was the monastery church of Upper Bavaria’s most important Benedictine abbey. Its foundation date and former religious function provide two clear chronological reference points in Tegernsee’s monastic history.

The Tegernseer Tal Museum displays local history collections featuring visual and written documents, as well as artefacts from the more than 1,000-year history of the monastery and the Wittelsbach family’s activities at Lake Tegernsee. The collection also includes folk art objects from the Tegernsee Valley, including significant furniture dating from the 16th to the 19th century. This means that, alongside the monastery’s history, the focus also includes regional collections.

The Olaf Gulbransson Museum on Lake Tegernsee is a branch gallery of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Since 1966, it has presented a permanent exhibition on Olaf Gulbransson and Simplicissimus. The two museums therefore have different focuses: local history and folk art collections at one, and an exhibition on Gulbransson and Simplicissimus at the other.

Piers, Boat Tours and a Walk

Rathaus Pier 1 and 2 are located in the centre of Tegernsee. The Herzogliches Bräustüberl and the Tegernseer Tal Museum are just a few minutes’ walk away. From Rathaus Pier 1, passengers can take the southern circular tour on routes C and D, as well as the full circular tour on routes A and B. If you are planning one of these boat tours, check the timetable for your specific plans.

A literary walk of about two kilometres follows in the footsteps of the coat of arms of the town and monastery of Tegernsee. It offers a different thematic experience from the museum collections or boat tours. When planning your visit, you can choose among these options according to your interests: the town’s coat of arms and history on foot, exhibitions in the museums, or a boat trip from Rathaus Pier 1.

More Cultural Highlights in the Wider Miesbach Destination

The wider Miesbach destination offers its own cultural attractions. The Waitzinger Keller cultural centre in Miesbach hosts operas, operettas, musicals, cabaret, concerts, children’s events, traditional events and exhibitions throughout the year. If you are planning to attend an event, check the current programme, as the specific offerings may change.

With a core collection of more than 3,000 objects, the Miesbach Local History Museum presents the natural and cultural landscape of the Oberland region. The collection includes examples of Miesbach furniture painting, religious folk art from the Miesbach pilgrimage era, and tools and equipment from guilds and trades, homes and farms. The collection also includes a farmhouse parlour, a shoemaker’s workshop and a hatmaker’s workshop.

Another highlight in the wider Miesbach destination is the Stadlberg Mindfulness Mountain Trail. It starts above Kleinthal, is approximately three kilometres long and passes seven stations. These stations invite visitors to practise mindful awareness, walking and breathing, gratitude, observing nature and a simple yoga-based mindfulness exercise. The walks described here therefore have different themes: in Tegernsee, the focus is on the town and monastery coat of arms; at Stadlberg in Miesbach, it is on mindfulness at seven stations.

Discover more destinations: Bad Wiessee, Valley, Kreuth, Miesbach, Schliersee, Rottach-Egern, Holzkirchen.

Go to the wider travel overview: Miesbach.