Neresheim Abbey
Encyclopedia
Neresheim Abbey or the Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra, Neresheim ( or ) is located above the town of Neresheim
in Baden-Württemberg
, southern Germany
. It is now a Benedictine monastery and is part of the Beuronese Congregation
.
In the 13th century, the abbey owned seven villages and it had an income from a further 71 places in the area. Ten parish churches were incorporated.
During wars and conflicts the monastery was destroyed several times for example during the Thirty Years' War
and during Napoleonic Wars
of the beginning of the 19th century
The present abbey church was built between 1747 and 1792 to plans by Balthasar Neumann
. The abbey appeared on the reverse of the 50 Deutsche Mark banknote current between 1998 and 2002, (the obverse showed Balthasar Neumann). The abbey was dissolved during the secularisation
of 1803 and transferred to Thurn und Taxis
until 1806 due to the Napoleoic invasion.
. The Duke of Thurn and Taxis then the state of Bavaria
and finally Württemberg
became the owner. Precious objects were bought from Thurn and Taxis by Bavaria. It was the Duke of Thurn and Taxis who made it possible to reopen the monastery in 1919. The first abbot was Bernhard Durst (1921–65). In 1919, the abbey was resettled by Benedictines from Beuron Archabbey
and the Emaus Abbey in Prague
.
basilica
but in 1695 it was transformed to a baroque
church. The present abbey was erected between 1747 and 1792 from plans by Balthasar Neumann
. After his death in 1753 his disciples and followers continued his work. It is a masterpiece of European baroque. its famous ceiling paintings were by Martin Knoller from Steinach
, Austria. They shows Jesus Christ in the centre surrounded by scenes from his life.
Norbert Stoffels having been their guiding abbot since 1977. There is a bookshop and a restaurant for visitors.
The monks run a conference centre and guesthouse, and offer courses and spiritual training. In 2004, the monastery set up the Neresheim Abbey Boys' Choir, which provides a free musical education and voice training. The choir sings regularly at services in the abbey church at Neresheim and also makes appearances outside the monastery.
In May 2010 the car of a kidnapped, later murdered person was found in the monastery yard. Visitors who took pictures in the period some days before and after May 13 were asked to contact the German police.
Neresheim
Neresheim is a town in the Ostalbkreis district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated northeast of Heidenheim, and southeast of Aalen....
in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is now a Benedictine monastery and is part of the Beuronese Congregation
Beuronese Congregation
The Beuronese Congregation, or Beuron Congregation, is a union of mostly German or German-speaking religious houses of both monks and nuns within the Benedictine Confederation...
.
First foundation
It was founded in 1095 as a monastery of the Augustinian Canons and changed to a Benedictine abbey in 1106.In the 13th century, the abbey owned seven villages and it had an income from a further 71 places in the area. Ten parish churches were incorporated.
During wars and conflicts the monastery was destroyed several times for example during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
and during Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
of the beginning of the 19th century
The present abbey church was built between 1747 and 1792 to plans by Balthasar Neumann
Balthasar Neumann
Johann Balthasar Neumann , also known as Balthasar Neumann, was a [German] military artillery engineer and architect who developed a refined brand of Baroque architecture, fusing Austrian, Bohemian, Italian, and French elements to design some of the most impressive buildings of the period,...
. The abbey appeared on the reverse of the 50 Deutsche Mark banknote current between 1998 and 2002, (the obverse showed Balthasar Neumann). The abbey was dissolved during the secularisation
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
of 1803 and transferred to Thurn und Taxis
Thurn und Taxis
The Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of many castles.- History :...
until 1806 due to the Napoleoic invasion.
Second foundation
In 1802 the monastery was closed as a consequence of secularizationSecularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
. The Duke of Thurn and Taxis then the state of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and finally Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
became the owner. Precious objects were bought from Thurn and Taxis by Bavaria. It was the Duke of Thurn and Taxis who made it possible to reopen the monastery in 1919. The first abbot was Bernhard Durst (1921–65). In 1919, the abbey was resettled by Benedictines from Beuron Archabbey
Beuron Archabbey
Beuron Archabbey is a major house of the Benedictine Order located at Beuron in the upper Danube valley in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
and the Emaus Abbey in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
The church
The medieval monastery had a romanRoman architecture
Ancient Roman architecture adopted certain aspects of Ancient Greek architecture, creating a new architectural style. The Romans were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics...
basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
but in 1695 it was transformed to a baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
church. The present abbey was erected between 1747 and 1792 from plans by Balthasar Neumann
Balthasar Neumann
Johann Balthasar Neumann , also known as Balthasar Neumann, was a [German] military artillery engineer and architect who developed a refined brand of Baroque architecture, fusing Austrian, Bohemian, Italian, and French elements to design some of the most impressive buildings of the period,...
. After his death in 1753 his disciples and followers continued his work. It is a masterpiece of European baroque. its famous ceiling paintings were by Martin Knoller from Steinach
Steinach am Brenner
Steinach am Brenner is a market town in the district of Innsbruck-Land and is located south of Innsbruck in the Wipptal at the Sill River. It has 3340 inhabitants.-Geography:...
, Austria. They shows Jesus Christ in the centre surrounded by scenes from his life.
The abbey today
Today there are 13 monks in the monastery,Norbert Stoffels having been their guiding abbot since 1977. There is a bookshop and a restaurant for visitors.
The monks run a conference centre and guesthouse, and offer courses and spiritual training. In 2004, the monastery set up the Neresheim Abbey Boys' Choir, which provides a free musical education and voice training. The choir sings regularly at services in the abbey church at Neresheim and also makes appearances outside the monastery.
In May 2010 the car of a kidnapped, later murdered person was found in the monastery yard. Visitors who took pictures in the period some days before and after May 13 were asked to contact the German police.