Ettal Abbey is the reason to come to this village. Founded in 1330 by Emperor Ludwig IV, it grew over the following centuries into one of Bavaria's most important Benedictine monasteries, rebuilding after a fire in the eighteenth century with the baroque basilica that now dominates the village. The dome — 60 metres across and brilliantly frescoed — is wildly oversized for the setting, which makes it all the more impressive when it appears around a corner in the valley.
The interior is a masterpiece of Bavarian baroque: white and gold, frescoed ceiling, twelve-sided nave that results from the original Gothic plan, and an atmosphere of genuine devotion that sets it apart from churches that feel like museums. The monks still run the place as a working Benedictine community. The abbey school has educated students here for centuries.
The monks produce and sell their own beer (both dark and light), herbal schnapps, and a range of products in the shops across the road from the church. The beer is excellent and you're encouraged to try it — the shop is open to all.