This former Benedictine monastery--originally named Jakobskirche or St. James Abbey--was founded in…read morethe 11th century by Irish missionaries and for most of its history was in the hands of first Irish, then Scottish monks. In Middle Latin, Scotti meant Gaels, not differentiating Ireland from Scotland, so that the term Schottenstift dates from the Irish period. That's a bit confusing to me, but it was eventually renamed after the numerous Scottish monks and missionaries who called it home from 1560 to 1860. In 1577, shortly after the Scottish Reformation, a papal bull transferred the monastery from Irish to Scottish monks. The monastery was in decline by that time with only one monk and one novice. The first Scottish abbot was Ninian Winzet (1518-92), an opponent of the reformer John Knox. Mary Queen of Scots ordered Abbot Winzet to train priests for Catholic missionary work in Scotland; the first priests were sent long after his death in 1623. The monastery managed to avoid dissolution during the Napoleonic period, a rare accomplishment. It was demoted to a priory in 1820, but monks remained in residence until 1862, when the Bavarian government bought the property and turned it into a seminary for training Catholic priests. A highlight of a visit is the spectacularly ornate north doorway (photo). Known as the Scottish Doorway (Schottenportal) constructed in the 12th century. It is the most famous architectural element of the church which occupies a full third of the north wall and is richly decorated with both ornamental and figural sculptures. It has resulted in the church being named one of Germany's most important Romanesque ecclesiastical buildings.

Easily overlooked by tourists (and slightly out of the old centre), the "Scots Church of St Jacob"…read moreis a stunning example of Romanesque architecture and a wonderfully quiet and spiritual counterpoint to the busy cathedral just 5 minutes' walk away. The name is, at first sight, rather odd: the church was founded as an Abbey by Irish monks. This reflects the fact that the word 'Scoti' was used by Roman authors to describe Gaelic tribes, whether from Ireland or what is now Scotland - the migrations of which in the Dark Ages were quite complex. But suffice to say that, in this case, the monks hailed from Ireland. An earlier Church to the South was established around 1070 but soon proved too small, and the present site was acquired around 1100 and a new Church dedicated in 1120. This was further enlarged around 1150-1185; only the east end (apse and towers) of the original church survives, the nave, Western transept and celebrated North portal dating from the later rebuilding. The monastery remained under Irish control until the Scottish reformation, when it was transferred by the Pope to Scottish monks: no less a figure than Mary, Queen of Scots sought monks from the Abbey for missionary work in Scotland. The church takes the form of a long, narrow nave with aisles, an apsed sanctuary flanked by aisle chapels, and a west transept. Unusually, the twin towers are at the eastern end. The north portal is a celebrated example of Romanesque architecture in Germany, but the meaning of its decoration has been long debated. As well as Christ and rows of seated apostles, it features a wonderful array of beasts (some real and some fantastical) including a crocodile, a mermaid entwined with a mer-man, and griffin-like winged animals, a dragon eating a lion and many more - all surrounded by classic Celtic interlaced decoration. The downside is that the portal is protected by the ugliest modern glazed canopy imaginable - and it needs a serious clean. Back inside however, the rhythmic pattern of rounded nave arcades of pale stone have exquisite Romanesque capitals and lead the eye effortlessly to the high altar. The effect is sublime.