The best walks and hikes around Benningen

"Ears in the Wind" fountain

ohh what an imposing building and what splendour - impressive

A very beautiful town hall, located in the immediate vicinity of the market square and the fountain. The town hall houses the citizens' office and administration. The tourist office is located a little further towards the basilica, right next to the Hirsch restaurant. Free parking is available next to the town hall in the evenings.

Hot meals served daily Kitchen hours: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Breakfast buffet Monday to Friday: 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays: 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Fountain in the market square with moving elements. According to the city, the fountain is named "Ears of Corn in the Wind."

Beautiful town hall fitting the city center

Ottobeuren Benedictine Abbey The Benedictine abbey was founded in 764. In 972, Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg obtained from Emperor Otto I the exemption from all imperial burdens and the free election of an abbot. From 1102 to 1145, under Abbot Rupert I, the Hirsau Reform was adopted for Ottobeuren, and a new monastery and church were completed. In 1365, the abbey lost its independence to Augsburg. During the Peasants' War and the Schmalkaldic War in the mid-16th century, the church was severely damaged and subsequently rebuilt in the Renaissance style. From 1630 to 1635, during the Thirty Years' War, the monastery buildings were misused and plundered. In 1710, Abbot Rupert II Neß succeeded in regaining imperial immediacy and began construction in 1711, which was largely completed in 1766. In 1802, the church and monastery became Bavarian state property as part of the secularization process. In 1805, the church became the parish church of Ottobeuren. In 1834/35, the monastery first came under the Augsburg Priory and then became an independent abbey again in 1918. In 1926, Pope Pius IX declared the church a minor basilica. Today, the complex is a monastery with a school (grammar school and secondary school) and serves as an educational institution. In 1964, the complex was stylishly renovated for the 1200th anniversary celebrations. Text / Source: https://dcsy.de/B_Ottobeuren/ott_klostergeschichte.htm#:~:text=In%20year%20764%20%20the%20Benedictine abbey%20was founded.%20972, and%20a%20new building%20of%20monastery%20and%20church%20was completed.

Ottobeuren Market Square / Market Chronicle Probably none of the visitors who stay in Ottobeuren today, for a shorter or longer period of time, can imagine how this approximately 1,500-year-old, historic town was founded. When visitors arrive in Ottobeuren from all directions by private car, taxi, or bus, their first gaze is usually drawn to the mighty basilica with its monastery buildings. No one considers that the very ground they have just set foot on was once impassable terrain, moorland, swamp, and densely wooded area. Nevertheless, a man had dared to gain a foothold here, clear the forest, and establish a human settlement. What Stone Age hunters and fishers had failed to achieve much earlier—namely, to settle here—had become the life's work of a man named Uot. At the site where the market square stands today, the first giant trees soon collapsed under the axe blows of the Uot farmers. Huts were built from rough beams, livestock was raised, and fields were cultivated. Only a few huts in the middle of the forest housed the Uot clan. Uot, the Swabian, founded Ottobeuren in the 5th century. Text / Source: Ottobeuren Tourist Office, Marktplatz 14, Ottobeuren https://www.ottobeuren.de/de/marktgemeinde/rathaus/markt-chronik.php