June 2026 | Gayeon Kim, 12th grade, & Daniel Glotz, teacher
On June 23, 2026, our 12th-grade class went on a field trip to Altötting, led by Mr. Glotz and accompanied by Ms. Kraus. The purpose of the field trip was to learn about the historical and economic significance of the pilgrimage site Altötting and to examine its development over time.
In the Middle Ages, the Church was one of society’s most important institutions. It not only influenced religious life but also played a significant role in the fields of education, medicine, and law. Because of its religious significance, Altötting developed into an important pilgrimage site.
Even today, numerous pilgrims and tourists visit the town, bringing economic benefits to hotels, restaurants, and shops. Altötting’s positive development demonstrates how religious significance can shape the geographic and economic development of a place over the centuries.
We visited various churches, including the centerpiece, the Chapel of Grace on Kapellplatz, a Bavarian national shrine dating from the 8th century where the famous “Black Madonna” is venerated. Surrounding the Chapel of Grace are many votive plaques, some of which are very old; it is estimated that there are approximately 2,000 such plaques, hung as a token of gratitude for help received. In addition to the Chapel of Grace, the imposing Basilica of St. Anne and the Collegiate Church of Sts. Philip and James define the spiritual center. We also took a closer look at the well-known “Doud vo Eding” (Death of Altötting) in the aforementioned collegiate church. It is a depiction of Death as the Grim Reaper—a skeletal figure approximately 50 cm tall, carved from silver-plated wood—who mows in time with a seven-meter-tall 17th-century cabinet clock. Legend has it that with every swing of his scythe, a person somewhere is said to die.
The field trip demonstrated how Altötting has evolved over time from a religious center into an important pilgrimage and tourist destination, and what geographical and economic impacts this has had to this day.
