Weingarten Basilica

The Basilica of St. Martin in Weingarten is the largest Baroque church in Germany. Its 67-meter dome, 102-meter length and twin-towered facade make it one of the highlights of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route, and inside you will find a famous Baroque organ and a relic of the Holy Blood. It is an easy stop in the Lake Constance region if you appreciate big, bright Baroque interiors and want to see the story of an old Benedictine abbey.

Where it is and how to get there

Weingarten lies in Upper Swabia in the district of Ravensburg, right beside the city of Ravensburg and not far from Lake Constance. Deutsche Bahn trains stop in Weingarten, and the basilica stands in the middle of town at Kirchplatz. A Deutschlandticket is valid on regional trains. A coach parking lot is near the entrance to the outer monastery courtyard, and after 6 p.m. parking in the courtyard is free of charge.

Why it matters

The abbey was founded by the Welf dynasty, whose later branches ruled Hanover and Great Britain. In 1056 Welf IV endowed a Romanesque church as a burial place for his family. The present Baroque church was begun in 1715 and consecrated on September 10, 1724. It cost 273,000 guilders, paid in cash. The abbot chose dimensions of about half those of St. Peter's in Rome. After the abbey was dissolved in 1803, the church became a parish church, and in 1956 Pope Pius XII raised it to the rank of basilica minor.

What to see

• Dome and facade: A twin-tower facade with a curved center and a drum dome.
• Ceiling frescoes: Painted by Cosmas Damian Asam between 1718 and 1720.
• Gabler organ: Completed in 1750, it is considered the largest and most important Baroque organ in southern Germany.
• Choir stalls: Carved by Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer between 1720 and 1724.
• The Holy Blood relic: Every year on Blood Friday, the Friday after Ascension Day, it is carried in one of Europe's largest horseback processions.

The Welf crypt and the Holy Blood

The basilica is also a chapter of Welf history. When the Baroque church was built, the remains of nine members of the Welf family were moved in 1724 into a new crypt in the north transept, and frescoes in the transept vaults show the founders, including Welf IV and his wife Judith of Flanders. Judith bequeathed the Holy Blood relic to the monks in 1094, and it has drawn pilgrims ever since. The painted surface of the dome covers about 400 square meters. Strictly speaking the church is not a basilica in the architectural sense but a Baroque hall church with galleries; the title "basilica minor" is an honor granted in 1956.

Opening hours and tours (as of October 2026)

The parish says the basilica is open daily to worshippers and visitors despite the ongoing building works. City flyers list 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for visits outside services; confirm this on +49 751 56127-0 if your plans depend on it. Entry is free, and donations toward the restoration are welcome. Guided tours run Monday to Saturday by appointment only and cost 30 euros for a group of up to 15 people. Restoration by the state is under way until 2028, and from autumn 2026 work focuses on the high altar and apse, so parts of the chancel may be screened off. The nave itself has been restored and relit since late 2024.

Practical tips

Plan 45 to 90 minutes for the basilica and the Gothic cloister next door. The church is wheelchair accessible. You cannot visit during services, so avoid Sunday mornings. Pilgrim restrooms near the coach lot are open weekdays 6:50 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.