Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg – Birnau Basilica

Birnau Basilica is a Baroque pilgrimage church set high above the northern shore of Lake Constance, in the municipality of Uhldingen-Mühlhofen in Baden-Württemberg. It was built in the 18th century on behalf of the Cistercian Abbey of Salem, after the older pilgrimage site elsewhere had been abandoned. The church is dedicated to the Mother of God and ranks among the most important Rococo buildings on Lake Constance. Its architect was the Vorarlberg master builder Peter Thumb. The church is especially renowned for its richly decorated interior, with stuccowork and ceiling frescoes, including the famous putto figure known as the "Honey Licker," seen as a symbol of the sweetness of divine grace. From the church's terrace, visitors enjoy sweeping views over the vineyards and the lake.

Birnau exemplifies the close bond between religious devotion and courtly splendor that characterized southern German monasteries during the Baroque era. The building reflects the wealth and power of the Imperial Abbey of Salem, which, until its secularization, was one of the most influential ecclesiastical territories on Lake Constance. The church later received the honorary title of basilica and remains an active pilgrimage site as well as a popular destination for art and architecture enthusiasts. With the 2029 commemorative 2-euro coin, Baden-Württemberg honors this outstanding example of southern German Baroque architecture on Lake Constance.