ALL SAINTS - WATERFALLS & MONASTERY RUINS

The All Saints' Monastery, located in the district of Lierbach and founded between 1191 and 1196, was founded by Uta von Schauenburg. She called the Premonstratensian Order to the monastery, which took care of the administration of the monastic property and the care of the surrounding parishes. From the late 13th century onwards, All Saints' Day attracted many pilgrims.

The monks had the well-being of the people in the neighboring communities in mind and began teaching the children of the region in the late Middle Ages. In the 18th century, the monastery reached its final heyday with a nationally renowned grammar school. The order ran the monastery until the end of the 1803 school year, which had belonged to Karl Friedrich, Margrave of Baden since secularization in 1802. The buildings then stood empty and were auctioned off for demolition in 1816. The remains of the once important complex were not noticed again until the nearby waterfalls were made accessible with ladders and stairs around 1840. August von Bayer, the first Baden conservator, campaigned for the preservation of Allerheiligen from 1844 onwards.

About 30 years later, the first of two spa houses was built, as Allerheiligen increasingly attracted tourists. Karl Baedeker visited the valley in 1853 and included Allerheiligen in his famous travel guides.

The ruins of the monastery are considered one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture. They were damaged by several fires.

The early Gothic ruins of the Allerheiligen Monastery, made of red sandstone, tower picturesquely above the waterfalls in the Lierbach Valley. Parts of the nave, the vestibule, the sacristy and the cloister have been preserved. An information center has been set up in the former servants' quarters below the ruins, and the ruins themselves are open to the public. There is a car park above the ruins, and the Allerheiligen Monastery Restaurant invites you to stop for a bite to eat.

The Allerheiligen waterfalls are among the most magnificent and highest in the Black Forest. Surrounded by the Schliffkopf, Hundskopf and Schwabenkopf mountains, they plunge almost 90 metres into the depths in seven cascades. The waterfalls, which were made accessible in 1840 via an idyllic path, lead visitors up numerous steps along the gorge and over several bridges. Alongside the monastery ruins, they are the main attraction of Allerheiligen and a popular destination for nature lovers, especially in summer.

The waterfalls, part of the forest area, were initially inaccessible even after the secularization of the monastery. Their development in 1840 was driven forward by the commitment of forester Eichrodt, the head of the Achern forestry office, and forest supervisor Mittenmaier, who came to Allerheiligen in 1838.

A one to two foot wide path was laid out, and the rocky cliffs at the seven waterfalls had to be overcome using ladders. This was an adventurous but also dangerous undertaking for hikers and tourists. When the ladders became known, the Grand Ducal Court Chamber in Karlsruhe also showed interest. In 1842, it provided a total of 100 guilders to create a wider and safer path for the public. Stairs replaced the ladders, and dangerous passages were secured with railings.

There is a parking lot below the waterfalls.