Mt Angel

The Willamette Valley & Wine Country


Eighteen miles north of Salem, the little town of Mt Angel, with its Bavarian-style storefronts and lovely abbey, is like an old-world holdover in the Oregon countryside. Visit in mid- to late September, during Oktoberfest, for maximum effect; thousands show up for the music, beer and dances. Gothic-like St Mary Parish Church (1910) is worth a visit for its mural-covered walls.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Willamette Valley & Wine Country attractions

1. Mt Angel Abbey

1.38 MILES

Open to everyone, the Mt Angel Abbey is a delightful Benedictine monastery on grassy grounds set atop a hill that overlooks town. There's a modernist…

2. Gordon House

4.99 MILES

Next to the Oregon Garden in Silverton is the Gordon House, the only building in Oregon designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built in 1964 and moved to…

3. Oregon Garden

5.16 MILES

Plant-lovers shouldn't miss this garden, located 15 miles east of Salem outside Silverton. Over 20 specialty gardens are showcased on 80 acres, including…

4. Champoeg State Heritage Area

13.36 MILES

A state heritage area and popular family destination, Champoeg is 25 miles southwest of Portland. There are 615 acres of old-growth woodland, grassy…

5. Robert Newell House

13.4 MILES

The 1852 Robert Newell House was the only one to survive the 1861 flood. It holds Native American artifacts and inaugural gowns worn by the wives of…

6. Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin

13.42 MILES

A 1931 log cabin reconstructed by the local Daughters of the American Revolution, this interesting museum is filled with objects brought across the Oregon…

7. Willamette University

14.38 MILES

Just south of the capitol, Willamette University was the first university in the western USA and is well respected for its liberal-arts undergraduate…

8. Oregon State Capitol

14.41 MILES

The state's first capitol building burned down in 1855, and a domed classic Roman edifice was built to replace it. Unfortunately, that building also…