Maria Laach Abbey – Walk past paradise, see the founder’s tomb

What will you find here? Paradise, literally.

Maria Laach Abbey is one of the finest abbeys of the medieval period. And it is in use: Monks of the Benedictine order are living and praying here again.

And you can really visit paradise in Maria Laach Abbey. Because ”Paradise" is the name for the colonnaded west porch in front of the church entrance. It was built in 1220 and decorated with numerous characters. Amongst them is the Laacher devil, a small impish figure.

The Founder Couple

It all started with Henry II. of Laach. He supported the emperor Henry IV. who struggled with many enemies within the realm (see more in Trebur and Schlossböckelheim). And the emperor rewarded his loyal follower. Henry IV. endorsed the marriage of Henry II. of Laach to Adelheid, the widow of the Count Palatine of Lothringia. This enabled Henry II. of Laach to take over the titles and property of Adelheid’s former husband. The new couple used its shared wealth to found Maria Laach Abbey in 1093.

Apart from its paradise the Romanesque church itself is well worth a visit. Once inside you can encounter the stone sarcophagus of its founder Henry II. of Laach. Today, the Benedictine monks regularly meet in the eastern sanctuary of the church to pray. Have a look at the crypt underneath the church. It is made of sandstone and resembles the crypt of Speyer Cathedral.