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Kreuzberg Monastery and Beer!

Living in Germany means that you have to love beer, good beer, beer that is made right on the premises! Yum! We never turn down a chance to check out an artsy brewery or a great monastery. Europe is chock full of great beer, and we don’t mind trying it out! So, at the tail end of winter, with just a little snow and a warm sun we found ourselves exploring Kreuzberg Monastery, and oh was the beer good!

Kreuzberg Beer Straight From their Monastery

These views greeted us on the sunny, yet cold, Sunday morning as we parked the car and climbed to the monastery to start our exploration of the area.

The path through the wintry forest of Kreuzberg Rhon.

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The first stop was the Information Center in the Franz-House which gave an overview of the history of the chapel and monastery.  Then we entered the old monastic brewery where the Franciscan monks started making beer in the 7th century right after they converted to Christianity.

Kreuzberg Rhon Monastery.
The beer brewed in the Kloster Kreuzberg is very tasty and very famous.
Kreuzberg Monastery has been making beer for centuries.

The medium-dark beer was creamy and smooth and just what we were looking for.  At about noon, we ambled in and had this guy poured us a couple mugs to take on our walk around the area.  There were plenty of people, some equipped with sleds or hiking sticks, others  just like us, to take in the last vestiges of winter and enjoy a beautiful day out.

Taking the beer for a walk around the monastery.
Hikers and day-trippers buy a mug of beer and take it out to enjoy the scenery.

We took our beers and took one of the many paths around the mountain enjoying the warm sun on our backs and twinkling icicles beginning to melt off of the trees.

Kreuzberg is known as the “Holy Mountain of the Franks” and there were plenty of people here.  I’m not sure if they came for the winter activities, for a pilgrimmage, or for the beer.  All were worthwhile.  There is also a fantastic Frankish Kitchen in the Brewery building.  The food is served cafeteria style and it is hearty and very German, not to mention downright delicious!

Ice sticks to the trees in Kreuzberg.
Winter in Kreuzberg Rhon.
Stairs heading up the mountain.
A statue greets you at the Kreuzberg Monastery.
St. Kilian, a Franciscan Bishop immortalized on Kreuzberg.

We had a great time on the mountain and learned that next time we need to bring our sleds.  The monastery is now a hostel and you can easily stay there overnight.  There is a part of the mountain with a ski lift and even a luge run, so there are plenty of things still to do.  We ate, we walked, we drank beer, and we enjoyed the mountain. And now we realize it has more to offer.  We’ll be back.

Check out the monastery’s website.

What a good day for a smooth beer?  Where are your recommendations for a winter walk?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Pin the Kreuzberg Winter Walk for later!

The perfect day out on a wintery day in Germany is at Kreuzberg Rhön!

Lukas Jackson

Thursday 22nd of February 2024

Many great memories I was stationed there once

Peter Petrides

Sunday 7th of March 2021

Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! We were stationed in Germany back in the '80's and our family got to visit. The beer there is world renowned and is often considered one of the best in the world by many people. When we visited they still had monks working there, and we got to see a monk in his brown robe rolling a keg to get tapped. Don't see that too much in the USA!

Miko Mustaraunio

Monday 29th of April 2019

I was here about a week ago with my girlfriend. We walked around the monastery and tasted the beer. The beer was one of the best I've ever tasted! Beautiful place and there is a amazing view to the nearby town near the monastery. I will definitely begin to visit this place every chance I get.

Jane Dempster-Smith

Thursday 31st of January 2019

That is the best winter walk I have ever heard of. How perfect buying a mug of beer and wandering around. This is my kind of place. Thanks for sharing.

Don

Friday 10th of February 2023

@Bill Sizemore,

I was stationed at Wildflecken from 74-77 and drank "black" bier at the monastery frequently, then walked down the hill and ate a fresh trout at the gasthaus. Seems so long ago....

Bill Sizemore

Sunday 11th of April 2021

I was stationed in Fulda in the late 70's. My job took me to Wildflecken five days a week. We would visit Kreuzberg at least once a week after work. Fantastic beer!!! We would also buy kegs for weekend parties. This place is a great place to visit. The food is great too.

Corinne Vail

Thursday 31st of January 2019

It is a fantastic place. It's great in summer, too, but of course we love it in winter!