While driving home from Linderhof, we came upon the church at Ettal. Small as far as churches go, it nevertheless hid a spectacular treasure.

The Road to Ettal

The cathederal at Ettal seems rather modest when driving up the road. If you drove by, you might never give it a second glance, assuming that it's just part of the adjacent academy.

But take a short walk through the academy courtyard and into the cathederal, and behold.... Marble, sculpture, and paintings almost overwhelm the senses in this tiny place of worship.

The Altar

View toward Heaven

As is common in dome-ceilings, a glance upward is a view toward heaven ... at least as the artist perceives it. The eternal struggle awaits the heavenward gaze of the worshipper.