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High-ranking visitors at Tegernsee: Emperor and Tsar visit the King In October 1822, King Max I Joseph of Bavaria received a high-ranking visitor at Lake Tegernsee: Emperor Franz I of Austria and Tsar Alexander I of Russia made world politics here – before traveling on to the congress in Verona. On October 8, 1822, Tegernsee Palace became the center of world politics: King Max I Joseph welcomed Emperor Franz I of Austria and Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Both monarchs used their stay at Tegernsee to prepare for the upcoming congress in Verona, where European peace was to be secured. After initial concerns about accommodating more than 250 people, the Bavarian court managed to entertain its guests magnificently: in addition to concerts and excursions, a spectacular mountain illumination with giant letters for the emperor and tsar caused a stir. A memorial stone at the "Großer Paraplui" (Great Umbrella) commemorates this extraordinary meeting. Unfortunately, the idea of ​​stopping off at the nearby brewery pub with the distinguished guests never occurred to them – something many would certainly have enjoyed. Bräustüberl Newspaper 108 (2022)

King and Brewer Bavaria became a kingdom. King Max I Joseph made Tegernsee his summer residence and took over the brewery and brewery pub in 1817, thus laying the foundation for their connection to the House of Wittelsbach. On January 1, 1806, Maximilian Joseph became Bavaria's first king. In 1817, he acquired the former Tegernsee Monastery and brewery from Baron von Drechsel, turning it into his summer residence and the "Royal Brown Brewery Tegernsee." Under royal leadership, Tegernsee flourished and became a cultural center and a popular meeting place for summer visitors and artists. The brewery grew rapidly, annual output increased significantly, and even Queen Caroline became involved in the operation. To this day, the brewery pub, known as the "Ducal Bavarian Brewery Tegernsee," belongs to the Wittelsbach family—and those lucky enough might even occasionally encounter members of the family there. To mark the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of Bavaria in 2006, the Ducal Brewery also brewed an anniversary beer. This fine beer was named after the first Bavarian king and the year of his coronation, "1806, Max I Joseph," and has been served in the brewery pub ever since. Bräustüberl Newspaper 16 (2006)

Dissolution of the monastery After the monastery was dissolved in 1803, the Tegernsee brewery survived all the upheavals, became a Wittelsbach family property, and with its Bräustüberl, became one of Bavaria's most famous restaurants. With the dissolution of the monastery in 1803, Tegernsee Monastery disappeared – but the brewery survived. After being administered by the state and sold to Baron von Drechsel, it passed to King Max I Joseph in 1817, became the "Royal Brown Brewery," and remained in the Wittelsbach family by inheritance ("Ducal Bavarian Brewery Tegernsee"). The brewery pub developed into a popular meeting place for locals and tourists, who have flocked to Tegernsee ever since. Today, it occupies almost the entire former brewery wing and, after visiting the newly renovated parish church, invites you to enjoy the Bavarian way of life – at prices that even leave something for the collection plate. Bräustüberl Newspaper 4 (2004)

Tegernseer in the Sendlinger Murder Christmas Over 300 years ago, brave men from the Tegernsee Valley marched to the Battle of Sendling to liberate Bavaria from imperial occupation – 109 paid with their lives. On December 25, 1705, the devastating "Sendlinger Murder Christmas" occurred just outside Munich. More than 1,000 insurgents from Upper Bavaria died attempting to liberate Bavaria from imperial troops. Among the dead were 109 men from the Tegernsee Valley. Although their efforts were hopeless, their memory has lived on to this day: a famous votive picture in the Egern parish church, a memorial plaque in the former Tegernsee monastery church, and the monumental memorial in Waakirchen commemorate their sacrifice. In 1898, the Tegernsee Veterans and War Veterans Association had the names of the dead from Tegernsee and Wiessee immortalized on a memorial plaque in the former monastery church (on the rear wall of the right aisle). In the Bräustüberl, then as now a meeting place for the valley's residents, their history remains part of the regional identity. Photo: Herbert Thiess, Wikipedia. The Sendling Peasants' Battle of 1705, detail from the fresco by Wilhelm Lindenschmit the Elder at the old parish church in Sendling. Brewery Newspaper 13 (2005)

The inventor of the Bräustüberl: Abbot Bernhard Wenzl Without him, there would be no Bräustüberl: The baroque “brewing abbot” of Tegernsee brought beer to the monastery – and thus created a success story that continues to this day. The 57th abbot of Tegernsee Abbey, Bernhard Wenzl, laid the foundation stone for today's Bräustüberl with the construction of a new brewery. The gatehouse (later the Spiritual Manor House, a building still standing today on the waterfront promenade, near the boat rental shop) marks the beginning of the Baroque reconstruction of the Tegernsee monastery complex. Abbot Bernhard Wenzl (1637–1714) was not only a man of faith, but also a skilled entrepreneur in monk's robes. Originally a simple farmer's son from Henndorf near Salzburg, Bernhard's talent, piety, and dedication led him to become Abbot of Tegernsee Monastery (1673–1700). His greatest achievement: in 1675, he secured the monastery's valuable brewing and liquor license, thus laying the foundation for the current success of the Tegernsee Brewery and Brew Pub. With the income from "beer consumption," he financed not only the beer but also monumental buildings such as the Baroque redesign of the monastery complex and the monastery church. The chronicler praised this wise decision as a "glorious deed." Abbot Bernhard Wenzl's influence extended far beyond the valley, from the construction of the church to the founding of the Bavarian Benedictine Congregation. After almost three decades of successful tenure, Bernhard retired and died in 1714. His living legacy remains unforgettable – and every sip of Tegernsee beer is a small thank you to the wise Abbot Bernhard. Originally brewed for guests and subjects, the beer was not intended for the monks themselves – they continued to prefer wine from their own estates. After the dissolution of the monastery in 1803, the brewery became state property and in 1817 became the property of King Max Joseph I, becoming the "Royal Brown Beer Brewery Tegernsee." Later, it passed to Duke Max in Bavaria. Today, the innkeepers and their regulars preserve the unique traditions and ensure that the Bräustüberl remains a popular meeting place – true to the words of Eugen Roth, who aptly summarized it: "Anyone who hasn't drunk a Maß – or more – there hasn't even received the minor ordination as a connoisseur of the Bavarian way of life." Bräustüberl Newspaper 123 (2025)

Beer for the Bräustüberl On February 22, 1675, Abbot Bernhard Wenzl secured the coveted concession for the “beer consumption” in Tegernsee – the beginning of a 350-year success story for the Bräustüberl, which continues to attract guests from all over the world. February 22, 1675 – the year on the memorial plaque next to the tavern dates back to the reign of Tegernsee's great abbot, Bernhard Wenzl, who came from near Salzburg and led the Tegernsee monastery from 1673 to 1700. "Bernardus Abbas," who is also immortalized on the central column opposite the Bräustüberl entrance with the year MDCLXXX (1680), was the one who, on the advice of his cellarer, brought the brewing rights from Holzkirchen to Tegernsee. This was by no means about the monks' own beer consumption; the tables in the refectory mostly featured products from their own vineyards in the Wachau and South Tyrol. Rather, the capable cellarer may have calculated that by operating independently, the monastery would no longer have to share its profits with a brewery operator, and the brewery could thus make a significant contribution to the costs of building the monastery. The monastery's profit was generated by the so-called "beer consumption," that is, the public serving of beer and its sale to innkeepers. The authorities maintained strict supervision over this, as a tax had to be paid on the beer sold. The then-reigning Elector Ferdinand Maria was on friendly terms with Tegernsee Abbey, but the state budget still needed money. Thus, Abbot Bernhard managed, "not without effort and expense," to transfer the brewing and dispensing rights from Holzkirchen to Tegernsee. On February 22, 1675, the moment had come: the abbey received the coveted "Electoral Concession for Beer Sale" in Tegernsee. Bräustüberl Newspaper 8 (2005)