The Michaelskloster on the Heiligenberg only exists as a ruin today.
It is the place from which the Heiligenberg gets its name, as the mountain was still called "Allerheiligen-Berg" (All Saints' Mountain) or "mons omnium sanctorum" in the Middle Ages and was dedicated to all saints. The name Heiligenberg is derived from the consecration formula under which the old Michaelskloster was founded on the rear summit of the mountain: "...in honor of the Holy Archangel Michael and all saints."
The builder of the first church around the year 870 was presumably Abbot Thiotroch of Lorsch. It was not until 1023 that Saint Michael was built in the location indicated by the foundation remains.
Abbot Reginbald, who later became Bishop of Speyer, had the monastery rebuilt using Carolingian architectural elements. In 1070, Abbot Friedrich of Hirsau was buried in the monastery (grave slab in the crypt of the basilica). Thus, the monastery became a pilgrimage site (though he was not canonized).
In the 11th century, the Michaelskloster became the foundation of a daughter monastery on the front summit of the Heiligenberg, the Stephanskloster. The last three monks in the Michaelskloster were killed in 1503 when the collapsing tower of the church fell on them in their beds. The monastery was dissolved and fell into oblivion.
In 1589, the Senate of Heidelberg University decided to demolish the monasteries and sell the stones. However, nothing happened, as Merian's engraving from 1645 shows. Only around 1860 did someone first draw attention to the remains of mighty stone walls stretching around the mountain's summits. Initially, they were attributed to Roman or medieval times. Excavations revealed that they extended even further back in history.
NOTE:
The Michaelsbasilika and Heiligenbergturm will reopen on March 1, 2025.
Opening hours:
March - September: 10 AM - 7 PM
October - December: 10 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays!
Closed in January and February, also on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.