{"id":12377,"date":"2026-10-27T00:53:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T23:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/de_de\/st-blasien-dom\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T00:53:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T23:53:28","slug":"st-blasien-cathedral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de\/en\/st-blasien-dom\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Blasien: cathedral and sights in the Southern Black Forest"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u201cclimatic health resort\u201d and \u201cKneipp spa town\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From our hotel in \u00dchlingen-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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"St.
Photo: H.Helmlechner<\/a> \/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

St. Blasien: the cathedral and its history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From monastery to domed church<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019Ixnard acted as master builder, and the Pantheon in Rome is considered the model. The new church was consecrated in 1783.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s website describes it, for the time of its consecration, as the \u201cthird-largest church dome in Europe\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, according to Wikipedia, 20 Corinthian columns support the inner dome. The space is predominantly white and therefore appears very bright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monastery, Habsburgs and Kolleg<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former monastery buildings now house the Kolleg St. Blasien, a boarding school run by Jesuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the cathedral: opening times, guided tours and concerts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s website (as of October 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Interior
Photo: H.Helmlechner<\/a> \/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The cathedral is considered barrier-free. According to the cathedral\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guided tours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s website at the parish office; for groups of up to 30 people the website gives \u20ac70 (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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More sights in and around St. Blasien<\/h2>\n\n\n\n