Salem Abbey and Palace

Salem Abbey (Kloster und Schloss Salem) on Lake Constance is one of the most important baroque monastery complexes in southern Germany. This former imperial Cistercian abbey blends a Gothic minster with baroque state rooms, and in the 19th century it became a palace of the Margraves of Baden. You can visit the minster, a monastery museum and the Imperial Hall, and stroll through the large grounds. It is a good cultural stop on a Lake Constance trip, especially on a rainy day.

A short history

The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1137 or 1138, and the Staufer kings took it under their protection in 1142. Work on the minster began around 1285 and finished about 1414. A fire on March 10, 1697 destroyed most of the monastery, and the architect Franz Beer rebuilt it in baroque style. In the 18th century Salem was a center of rococo art, and its orphans' fund from 1749 is considered Germany's first savings bank. After Baden took over the territory in 1802 and 1803, the monastery was dissolved in 1804. A boarding school has operated here since 1920, and in 2008 the House of Baden sold most of the complex to the state of Baden-Württemberg.

What to see

Highlights include the minster, the monastery museum in the abbot's residence, the Imperial Hall, the Marian altar (described by the operator as the first night scene in German painting) and a fire brigade museum. You can explore on your own or join a guided tour of the abbot's rooms. A free app called "Monument BW" offers a self-guided tour. A family-oriented event day takes place on October 11, 2026.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

From March 28 to November 1, 2026, the abbey is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays and public holidays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m. Admission costs 11 euros for adults, 5.50 euros for reduced and for children ages 6 to 15, and 27.50 euros for a family. A ticket with a guided tour is 13 euros for adults. From November 2 to March 27 the abbot's rooms are closed. There is a Sunday tour through the prayer hall, cloister and minster, and the monastery museum opens only on Sundays and public holidays.

Getting there

Road construction affects access right now. Detours are signposted, and the palace and visitor parking remain reachable. Free parking is available around the complex, and coaches have five free spaces. Use the bwegt timetable service for public transport. Deutsche Bahn runs trains in the region.

Dogs, kids and accessibility

Dogs are not allowed inside the buildings and must be on a leash outdoors. Flash photography for private use is generally allowed, but tripods and selfie sticks are banned indoors. The complex is only partly wheelchair accessible. Fans of rococo can also visit the pilgrimage church of Birnau in the region. The information line is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.