The little town of Mount 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.
Open to everyone, the Mount Angel Abbey is a delightful Benedictine monastery on grassy grounds set atop a hill that overlooks town. There's a modernist library designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, plus a quirky museum featuring a 2.5lb pig hairball and deformed calves (among other amazing taxidermy). Lodging is available to those seeking a spiritual retreat.
Mount Angel is 18 miles northeast of Salem on Hwy 214.
