St. Blasien lies in the Albtal in the Southern Black Forest and is best known for its cathedral: the dome of the former monastery church measures 36 metres in diameter and shapes the townscape for miles around. The town also holds the designations “climatic health resort” and “Kneipp spa town”.
From our hotel in Ühlingen-Birkendorf it is around 23 km, about 25 minutes by car. This article summarises what is documented about the cathedral and its history, how to plan your visit and what is worth seeing in the surrounding area.
St. Blasien: the cathedral and its history
From monastery to domed church
The cathedral was the church of a Benedictine monastery. After the medieval monastery church was destroyed by fire in 1768, Prince-Abbot Martin Gerbert had a new building erected. The French architect Pierre Michel d’Ixnard acted as master builder, and the Pantheon in Rome is considered the model. The new church was consecrated in 1783.
In 1874 a fire destroyed the dome and the interior furnishings. After reconstruction, the cathedral was reconsecrated in 1913. A comprehensive renovation followed from 1981 to 1983.
The dome
According to Schwarzwald Tourismus, the dome has a diameter of 36 metres, and the whole structure is 62 metres high. The cathedral is one of the largest domed churches in Europe; the cathedral’s website describes it, for the time of its consecration, as the “third-largest church dome in Europe”.
Inside, according to Wikipedia, 20 Corinthian columns support the inner dome. The space is predominantly white and therefore appears very bright.
Monastery, Habsburgs and Kolleg
The monastery was dissolved in 1806, and the monks moved to St. Paul im Lavanttal in Austria in 1809. St. Blasien has been twinned with this community since 1964. As early as 1770, the remains of early Habsburgs had been transferred to St. Blasien; since 1809 they too have lain in St. Paul.
The former monastery buildings now house the Kolleg St. Blasien, a boarding school run by Jesuits.
Visiting the cathedral: opening times, guided tours and concerts
The cathedral is open to visitors during the day, in the winter half-year (November to March) from 08:30 to 17:00, and for longer in the summer half-year. Sightseeing is not possible during services and events. You will find the current times and the service programme on the cathedral’s website (as of October 2026).
The cathedral is considered barrier-free. According to the cathedral’s website, however, the barrier-free entrance remains closed during the winter opening hours because of the danger of snow and ice falling from the roof.
Guided tours
Group tours last about an hour, and the meeting point is in front of the cathedral. Tours are booked via the form on the cathedral’s website at the parish office; for groups of up to 30 people the website gives €70 (as of October 2026). For individual visitors, the St. Blasien tourist information office regularly offers guided tours, according to Schwarzwald Tourismus; the dates are listed in the events programme.
Concerts
The International Cathedral Concerts take place in July and August. In the 2026 programme, an organ concert on 1 September closed the summer cycle. An Advent concert with VoNo Stockholm, with Lucia songs and Scandinavian Christmas music, has been announced for 5 December 2026 at 16:00.
Tickets are available from the tourist information offices of Hochschwarzwald Tourismus and online via Reservix. The box office on the evening opens one hour before the concert begins.
More sights in and around St. Blasien
- Kreismuseum St. Blasien: It is housed in the former stables (Marstall). You can read more in our article on the District Museum St. Blasien.
- Wildgehege St. Blasien (wildlife enclosure): According to Hochschwarzwald Tourismus, the enclosure covers 8.5 hectares.
- Albsee in the Albtal: Hochschwarzwald Tourismus describes it as a quiet place to linger.
- Windbergschlucht: There is a natural climbing rock here; the Windbergwasserfall is one of the destinations on the Schluchtensteig.
- Menzenschwand: This district lies on the southern slope of the Feldberg. There you will find the Menzenschwand waterfalls (see our article on the Menzenschwander Waterfall) and the museum „Le Petit Salon“ dedicated to the painters Hermann and Franz Xaver Winterhalter (more about this in our article about the Winterhalter Museum in Menzenschwand). Menzenschwand is about 28 km from our house, by car about 30 minutes.
A few kilometres away there is also Höchenschwand, the “village in the sky”: around 7 km from St. Blasien, about 10 minutes by car.
Hiking: the Schluchtensteig and Albsteig lead through St. Blasien
Two long-distance trails touch the town. On the fourth stage of the Schluchtensteig the cathedral comes into view for the first time after the climb out of the Windbergschlucht; the fifth stage begins in the Kurpark of St. Blasien with a view back at the cathedral.
The Albsteig runs from Albbruck on the High Rhine through the Albtal to the Feldberg and touches St. Blasien several times. Both trails are also suitable for individual day stages.
Practical information for your visit
- How to get there from the hotel: about 23 km, by car about 25 minutes.
- Address of the cathedral: Fürstabt-Gerbert-Straße 16, 79837 St. Blasien.
- Parking: According to the Schluchtensteig portal, there is free parking in St. Blasien on the bypass road and at the cemetery.
- By train and bus: The train runs as far as Seebrugg; from there, bus 7319 takes about 20 minutes to St. Blasien. Alternatively, you can travel to Waldshut and continue with bus 7332 (about 50 minutes).
- Best time: The cathedral is open all year round; the cathedral concerts take place in summer. In winter, Hochschwarzwald Tourismus provides information on cross-country ski trails and lifts in the area.
Timetables change, so please check the connections shortly before your journey, for example in the bwegt timetable information.
Our house as a starting point
We are in Birkendorf at 800 metres in the Rothauser Land. After a day with the cathedral, the museum and a walk, our Wellness area invites you to unwind: with the indoor pool (84 m²), the panoramic sauna with forest view and the herbal steam sauna (bio sauna). The spa area is open daily from 09:00 to 20:00. You can read more about the saunas in our article on the sauna area.
For dinner, the Restaurant Sonnenhof offers creative Baden cuisine with regional ingredients and a menu that changes with the seasons (Cuisine). In our Arrangements, for example “Aktiv im Südschwarzwald”, the KONUS guest card is included, which allows you to use buses and trains in the Black Forest.
You can find available dates and rooms via the direct booking.
Frequently asked questions
Where is St. Blasien?
St. Blasien lies in the Albtal in the Southern Black Forest, in the district of Waldshut. From our hotel it is around 23 km, about 25 minutes by car.
How big is the cathedral’s dome?
Schwarzwald Tourismus gives a diameter of 36 metres and a total height of 62 metres.
When was the cathedral built?
The new building was constructed after the monastery fire of 1768 and was consecrated in 1783. A fire destroyed the dome and the furnishings in 1874, and the cathedral was reconsecrated in 1913.
Can I visit the cathedral at any time?
Not during services and events. In the winter half-year the cathedral is open until 17:00, and for longer in the summer half-year. Current times are on the cathedral’s website.
Are there guided tours of the cathedral?
Yes. Groups book via the parish office, and the tour lasts about an hour. For individual visitors, Schwarzwald Tourismus mentions regular guided tours by the tourist information office, with registration on 07652 1206-0.
Is the cathedral barrier-free?
The cathedral has a barrier-free entrance. According to the cathedral’s website, it remains closed during the winter opening hours because of the danger of snow and ice falling from the roof.
Sources
- Dom St. Blasien: home page with opening times and notes
- Dom St. Blasien: cathedral tours and opening times
- Dom St. Blasien: International Cathedral Concerts 2026
- Dom St. Blasien: history and architecture
- Schwarzwald Tourismus: Dom St. Blasius
- Schwarzwald Tourismus: Records in the Black Forest
- Hochschwarzwald Tourismus: St. Blasien
- Hochschwarzwald Tourismus: press release St. Blasien (PDF)
- Wikipedia: Dom St. Blasien
- Wikipedia: St. Blasien
- Slake Steig: 5th stage St. Blasien – Todtmoos
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