Birnau Basilica
Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, Germany
A pink-and-white Rococo pilgrimage church above lakeside vineyards, known for its cherub licking honey. The terrace looks across the lake to the Alps.
The pilgrimage church of Birnau stands on the north shore of the Überlinger See and was built for Salem Abbey. The Vorarlberg master builder Peter Thumb built it between 1746 and 1749; the foundation stone was laid in 1747 and the church was consecrated in 1750. Its façade is now uniformly pink with white decoration. Inside, the ceiling frescoes are by Gottfried Bernhard Göz, and the stucco and altars by Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer. The best-known figure is the “Honigschlecker” (honey-licker), a putto on the altar of St Bernard. In 1971 Pope Paul VI raised the church to the rank of minor basilica.
The church lies right beside the B 31 between Nußdorf and Unteruhldingen, so a visit combines well with the pile-dwelling museum. According to Wikivoyage, admission is free and the church is open during the day; exact hours vary with the season.
- Nearest town
- Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, Germany
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 47.7431, 9.2172
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Campingplatz Brändle-KöhneCampsite1 km from Birnau BasilicaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping Birnau-MaurachCampsite1 km from Birnau BasilicaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Naturcampingplatz Litzelstetten-MainauCampsite4 km from Birnau BasilicaTentsMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- KlausenhornCampsite5 km from Birnau BasilicaTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Reisemobilhafen ÜberlingenMotorhome stopover6 km from Birnau Basilica · 42 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Campinghof SalemCampsite7 km from Birnau Basilica · 108 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
All campsites in Germany · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Birnau Basilica?
Birnau Basilica is in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, Germany, at GPS 47.7431, 9.2172. It is about 5 km from Überlingen.
Can you camp near Birnau Basilica?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Campingplatz Brändle-Köhne, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 93 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Birnau Basilica?
Birnau Basilica is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Lake Constance’s German shore.
What is there to see near Birnau Basilica?
Places worth a stop nearby: Unteruhldingen Pile Dwellings (2 km), Mainau Island (5 km), Meersburg (7 km) and Reichenau Island (13 km).
When is the best time to visit Birnau Basilica?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)