Fraueninsel (Frauenchiemsee)

Fraueninsel (Frauenchiemsee) is a tiny, car-free island on Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria, about an hour southeast of Munich, and home to one of the oldest convents in the German-speaking world. Fishermen's cottages, flower gardens and a white Benedictine abbey cluster around a landmark bell tower that you can spot from all over the lake. Compared with neighboring Herreninsel and its royal palace, Fraueninsel is quieter and more intimate, perfect for a relaxed stroll, a look inside a thousand-year-old church and a smoked-fish lunch by the water.

1,200 years of history

According to tradition, Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria founded the abbey of Frauenwörth in 782, and recent research supports that date. Around 857 Irmengard, a daughter of King Louis the German, became abbess; she is still venerated as the patron of the Chiemgau region. The Romanesque church largely dates from the 11th century. The convent survived Bavaria's secularization in 1803, and King Ludwig I re-established it in 1836 on condition that the nuns run schools. Benedictine sisters still live here today.

What to see

• The minster church: Romanesque walls, late 12th-century frescoes, a 1475 baptismal font and Baroque altars. Behind the high altar, Irmengard's remains rest in a crystal shrine.
• The bell tower (Campanile): An octagonal, freestanding tower about 118 feet (36 m) tall, crowned by an onion dome.
• The Carolingian gatehouse (Torhalle): Among the oldest surviving buildings in southern Germany. Check ahead whether it is open.
• The island loop: A walk of under a mile (about 1.5 km) around the whole island takes roughly 20 minutes.

Ferries, prices and opening hours

Chiemsee boats run year-round; the winter timetable started on September 21, 2026. Fares as of October 2026:

• From Gstadt (about 10 minutes): €8.70 round trip, children 6–15 €4.30
• From Prien/Stock (about 30 minutes), the "Inseltour West" covering both islands: €13.40, children €6.70, families €36.90

Buy tickets at the Prien or Gstadt ticket offices or on board, where only cash is accepted. Visiting the island and the church is free.

How to get there

Take a train from Munich toward Salzburg to Prien am Chiemsee, roughly an hour's ride; regional trains accept the Deutschlandticket. In summer, the historic Chiemsee-Bahn steam tram links Prien station to the harbor. From Prien/Stock, boats sail to both islands. If you are driving, Gstadt on the northern shore offers the shortest crossing.

Tips

Allow at least 1.5 hours on the island, more if you combine it with Herreninsel. Six professional fishermen live here and sell smoked whitefish (Renke) from their gardens. The convent shop sells the nuns' own liqueurs, gingerbread and marzipan, which make good souvenirs. Cycling is not allowed on the island.

Nearby

• Herreninsel and Herrenchiemsee Palace: King Ludwig II's take on Versailles, a short boat hop away.
• Prien am Chiemsee: The main harbor town with a lakeside promenade.