Rüeggisberg Priory
Encyclopedia
Rüeggisberg Priory was a Cluniac priory in the municipality of Rüeggisberg
, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
.
The original foundation of uncertain date, made by Lütold of Rümligen, was turned into the first Cluniac house in the German-speaking world by Cuno of Siegburg
and Ulrich of Zell
in about 1072, when the first cells were built. Construction of the Romanesque
church lasted from about 1100 to about 1185, of which there still remain the north transept
and parts of the crossing tower.
The priory was one of the most important monastic houses of Switzerland during the Middle Ages
, but in the late medieval period decline set in, and in 1484 it was incorporated into the newly-built college of the Augustinian Canons of Berne Minster
. The church was shut down in 1541 during the Reformation
. The monastic buildings thereafter served as a source of building stone and partly as a barn.
Between 1938 and 1947 on an archaeological dig the old foundations were again laid bare, as may be seen in the little museum next to the rectory.
Rüeggisberg
Rüeggisberg is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Rüeggisberg has an area of . Of this area, 64.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 29.2% is forested...
, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
The original foundation of uncertain date, made by Lütold of Rümligen, was turned into the first Cluniac house in the German-speaking world by Cuno of Siegburg
Siegburg
--122.148.78.228 05:06, 14 November 2011 Siegburg is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany...
and Ulrich of Zell
Ulrich of Zell
Saint Ulrich of Zell, also known as Wulderic, sometimes of Cluny or of Regensburg , was a Cluniac reformer of Germany, abbot, founder and saint.-Life:...
in about 1072, when the first cells were built. Construction of the Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church lasted from about 1100 to about 1185, of which there still remain the north transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
and parts of the crossing tower.
The priory was one of the most important monastic houses of Switzerland during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, but in the late medieval period decline set in, and in 1484 it was incorporated into the newly-built college of the Augustinian Canons of Berne Minster
Münster of Berne
The Münster of Bern is the Gothic cathedral in the old city of Bern, Switzerland. Construction started in 1421. Its tower, with a height of , was only completed in 1893...
. The church was shut down in 1541 during the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. The monastic buildings thereafter served as a source of building stone and partly as a barn.
Between 1938 and 1947 on an archaeological dig the old foundations were again laid bare, as may be seen in the little museum next to the rectory.