The hill spur on which the abbey is situated was likely used in prehistoric times as a cult site.
Around 1300, a wooden chapel dedicated to St. Michael was built there and a statue of Mary erected before 1400.
The likely location of this chapel was where the choir of today's church stands.
The first documented pilgrimage took place in 1406.
In 1469, a brotherhood was established in connection with the Engelberg pilgrimage.
In 1483, Grossheubach came to the Archbishop of Mainz in a land swap with the Teutonic Order that had held the village and its surroundings since 1291.

In 1630, Anselm Kasimir von Wambold, Archbishop of Mainz, asked Capuchins from the Rhenish Province to come here.
The abbey was finished by 1639.
At the same time the church was enlarged and largely achieved its current, Baroque, form.
After 1647, the monastery had the status of Konvent (previously it had been a pilgrims' Hospice).
In 1697, the Antonius chapel was added.
In 1701, the Gnadenbild der Freudenreichen Muttergottes (statue of Mary) from the early or mid-14th century, was set up in a new side-chapel on the right.

When the German ecclesial states were securalized in the early 19th century in what is known as the German mediatization, Engelberg was initially not much affected.
The acceptance of novices was forbidden, though, setting it up for eventual extinction.
In 1817, the Gymnasium (school) was dissolved.
However, in 1828, King Ludwig I of Bavaria ordered the monks to move to Aschaffenburg.
The monastery was refounded, but Franciscans of the Bavarian Order Province took over in taking care of pilgrims.

A burial chapel for the Catholic branch of House Löwenstein was built next to the church (the abbey had been their burial site since 1728).
In 1899, the church was enlarged towards the west.
A terrace was added as well as the room which today serves as a confessional chapel.

The pilgrimage continues.
Well into the post-WWII period, some pilgrims climbed the steps to the abbey on their knees while praying.
The hill spur on which the abbey is situated was likely used in prehistoric times as a cult site. Around 1300, a wooden chapel dedicated to St. Michael was built there and a statue of Mary erected before 1400. The likely location of this chapel was where the choir of today's church stands. The first documented pilgrimage took place in 1406. In 1469, a brotherhood was established in connection with the Engelberg pilgrimage. In 1483, Grossheubach came to the Archbishop of Mainz in a land swap with the Teutonic Order that had held the village and its surroundings since 1291.
In 1630, Anselm Kasimir von Wambold, Archbishop of Mainz, asked Capuchins from the Rhenish Province to come here. The abbey was finished by 1639. At the same time the church was enlarged and largely achieved its current, Baroque, form. After 1647, the monastery had the status of Konvent (previously it had been a pilgrims' Hospice). In 1697, the Antonius chapel was added. In 1701, the Gnadenbild der Freudenreichen Muttergottes (statue of Mary) from the early or mid-14th century, was set up in a new side-chapel on the right.
When the German ecclesial states were securalized in the early 19th century in what is known as the German mediatization, Engelberg was initially not much affected. The acceptance of novices was forbidden, though, setting it up for eventual extinction. In 1817, the Gymnasium (school) was dissolved. However, in 1828, King Ludwig I of Bavaria ordered the monks to move to Aschaffenburg. The monastery was refounded, but Franciscans of the Bavarian Order Province took over in taking care of pilgrims.
A burial chapel for the Catholic branch of House Löwenstein was built next to the church (the abbey had been their burial site since 1728). In 1899, the church was enlarged towards the west. A terrace was added as well as the room which today serves as a confessional chapel.
The pilgrimage continues. Well into the post-WWII period, some pilgrims climbed the steps to the abbey on their knees while praying.
Engelberg Abbey (Bavaria)