Near Bingen am Rhein and the town of Gau-Algesheim rises the Jakobsberg, at its foot lies the Rheinhessian place Ockenheim. Above Ockenheim, on the Jakobsberg, stands the Kloster Jakobsberg: a place that combines history, spirituality, and breathtaking views. Its roots go back to the first half of the 18th century, when the pilgrimage in honor of the 14 Holy Helpers attracted more and more pilgrims.
Initially, hermits attended to the pilgrims, living in a small chamber in the 14-Holy-Helpers Chapel. The present church was built in the mid-19th century, shortly thereafter the adjacent residential building “St. Christoph”.The visit to the church with its artworks from various decades of the 19th and 20th centuries completes the experience, a true delight for art and culture enthusiasts. With the increasing popularity of the pilgrimage, the Trappists took over the care of the pilgrims in 1921, they left the monastery in 1949. For a short time, Jakobsberg housed the novitiate of the East German Jesuits, before the Missionary Benedictines from St. Ottilien acquired the monastery in 1961.
In 2023, the last monks moved out. Today, Kloster Jakobsberg is an educational institution of the Diocese of Mainz.
Visitors will enjoy a walk through the tranquil grounds, not only because of the historical buildings but also especially due to the beautiful and seemingly endless view over the Rhine Valley to Bingen and over to the Rheingau. In good weather, the view even extends to the Taunus.
Surrounded by hiking trails, picnic areas, vineyard swings, and viewpoints such as the Johannisberg Tower or the Peace Cross above Ockenheim, Kloster Jakobsberg is an ideal place for a relaxing outing, whether with family, as a pilgrim, hiker, or simply to enjoy the tranquility and the view.
