Kapuzinerberg: The Capuchin Monastery

The Kapuzinerberg Hill is, at 636 metres, the highest elevation in the city, and used to be known as the “Imberg” but is now named for the Capuchin Monastery that crowns its summit. The mountain is believed to have been inhabited as far back as 1000 BC.

One of the scenic routes leading to the monastery: the Imbergstiege, takes you to the little church of St. Johannes on the Imberg, which was built in 1319, and then completely rebuilt in 1631 in the baroque style under Prince Archbishop Max Gandolf.

The main Capuchin monastery building, which was originally a fortification protecting the one bridge crossing the river, dates from the time of Prince-Archbishop Wolf-Dietrich. The monks of the Kapuziner order converted the fortress in 1594 to their purpose. The monastery, built on the plateau, is based on a simple and modest architecture which complies with the rules of the order. It is still an active monastery and only the church may be visited by the public.

The church is simple—but remarkable— for containing one of the few pieces to survive from the old Romanesque cathedral. The wood-carved front gate is in Gothic style and was previously used in the old cathedral. The main altar dates back to the early 18th century, the central altar painting depicts the adoration of the magi by the shepherds and was painted in 1602.