Tegernsee Abbey

Tegernsee Abbey (German Kloster Tegernsee or Abtei Tegernsee) is a former Benedictine monastery in the town and district of Tegernsee in Bavaria. Both the abbey and the town that grew up around it are named after the Tegernsee, the lake on the shores of which they are located. The name is from the Old High German tegarin seo, meaning great lake. Tegernsee Abbey, officially known as St. Quirinus Abbey for its patron saint St.Quirinus, was first built in the 8th century. Until 1803, it was the most important Benedictine community in Bavaria. Today, the monastery buildings are known as Tegernsee Castle (Schloss Tegernsee) and are in the possession of Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria, a member of the Wittelsbach family. The local Catholic parish church of Saint Quirinus is in the former abbey church. In addition to the private quarters of the ducal couple, the former abbey premises now accommodate the Tegernsee Grammar School (Gymnasium Tegernsee) and the well-known Ducal Bavarian Brewery of Tegernsee, with a brew pub and a restaurant.