Schöntal Abbey
Encyclopedia
Schöntal Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey in Schöntal
in the district of Hohenlohe
, Baden-Württemberg
, Germany
. It is famous as one of the most impressive pieces of Baroque architecture
in northern Württemberg and is now used by the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
as a retreat and training centre.
. The original site proved unsuitable and the new community moved to the present location in Schöntal on the Jagst
between 1157 and 1163. The land for the new site was provided by the von Berlichingen family in exchange for rights of burial in the monastery. The monastery was under the protection of the Bishops of Würzburg.
Despite a promising beginning, the abbey found itself in financial difficulties by the early 13th century. Maulbronn Abbey was also in financial trouble and gave Schöntal to Kaisheim Abbey
, which settled its debts in 1283.
After this, Schöntal made a recovery, and in 1418 at the Council of Constance
was granted the status of Imperial abbey, although it only retained this until 1495. It was plundered several times and suffered severe damage during the German Peasants' War
in 1525. Although it survived the Reformation
the buildings became uninhabitable and an emergency block had to be constructed in 1617–18, now known as the Alte Abtei ("the old abbey"). The monastery was besieged during the Thirty Years' War
and the monks were eventually forced to flee in 1631, abandoning what remained of the buildings to looting and plunder. In 1648 the premises were several times used as soldiers' billets.
The abbey finally experienced a revival under abbot Benedikt Knittel (in office from 1683 to 1732). Under his leadership was built the Baroque
abbey church, designed by Leonhard Dientzenhofer, in which Götz von Berlichingen
is buried. Abbot Benedikt was also responsible for the palatial claustral buildings with the grand staircase by Balthasar Neumann
. Some forty monks lived in the community, besides about thirty conversi or lay brothers, who lived outside the monastery while following a monastic way of life.
The abbey was secularised
in 1802, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Württemberg
. The furnishings and contents were removed to Stuttgart
, and the buildings used initially for the accommodation of local government administration. From 1810 to 1975, Schöntal Abbey was one of the buildings used for the Evangelical Theological Seminary (Evangelisch-theologisches Seminar or Seminar Maulbronn), now the Evangelical Seminaries of Maulbronn and Blaubeuren
.
Today the buildings are used by the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
as a centre for conferences, retreats and training, as well as the town hall of the community of Schöntal.
Most of the Baroque buildings and the monastery gardens have survived.
Schöntal
Schöntal is a town and municipality in the district of Hohenlohe in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.It is principally known as the location of the former Schöntal Abbey, a magnificent Baroque monastery....
in the district of Hohenlohe
Hohenlohe (district)
The Hohenlohekreis is a district in the north of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Neckar-Odenwald, Main-Tauber, Schwäbisch Hall and Heilbronn.Künzelsau is the administration centre of the district....
, 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...
, 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 famous as one of the most impressive pieces of Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
in northern Württemberg and is now used by the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
The Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. The diocese is located in the Württemberg part of the German State of Baden-Württemberg.-History:...
as a retreat and training centre.
History
The Cistercian monastery was founded in 1153 in Neusass by Wolfram von Bebenburg and was settled by monks from Maulbronn AbbeyMaulbronn Abbey
Maulbronn Monastery is the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex in Europe. It is situated on the outskirts of Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and is separated from the town by fortifications. Since 1993 the monastery is part of the Unesco World Heritage.- History :The...
. The original site proved unsuitable and the new community moved to the present location in Schöntal on the Jagst
Jagst
The Jagst is a right tributary of the Neckar in northern Baden-Württemberg. It is 189 km long. Its source is in the hills east of Ellwangen, close to the Bavarian border. It winds through the towns Ellwangen, Crailsheim, Kirchberg an der Jagst, Langenburg, Krautheim, Möckmühl and Neudenau...
between 1157 and 1163. The land for the new site was provided by the von Berlichingen family in exchange for rights of burial in the monastery. The monastery was under the protection of the Bishops of Würzburg.
Kaisheim Abbey
Kaisheim Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Kaisheim, Bavaria, Germany.- History :It was founded by Henry II, Count of Lechsgemünd and his wife Liutgard, and was a daughter house of Lucelle Abbey in Alsace. Count Henry's initial gift of the land was made in 1133; the foundation charter was dated...
, which settled its debts in 1283.
After this, Schöntal made a recovery, and in 1418 at the Council of Constance
Council of Constance
The Council of Constance is the 15th ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418. The council ended the Three-Popes Controversy, by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining Papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V.The Council also condemned and...
was granted the status of Imperial abbey, although it only retained this until 1495. It was plundered several times and suffered severe damage during the German Peasants' War
German Peasants' War
The German Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt was a widespread popular revolt in the German-speaking areas of Central Europe, 1524–1526. At its height in the spring and summer of 1525, the conflict involved an estimated 300,000 peasants: contemporary estimates put the dead at 100,000...
in 1525. Although it survived 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 buildings became uninhabitable and an emergency block had to be constructed in 1617–18, now known as the Alte Abtei ("the old abbey"). The monastery was besieged 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 the monks were eventually forced to flee in 1631, abandoning what remained of the buildings to looting and plunder. In 1648 the premises were several times used as soldiers' billets.
The abbey finally experienced a revival under abbot Benedikt Knittel (in office from 1683 to 1732). Under his leadership was built the 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...
abbey church, designed by Leonhard Dientzenhofer, in which Götz von Berlichingen
Götz von Berlichingen
Gottfried "Götz" von Berlichingen and also known as Götz of the Iron Hand, was a German Imperial Knight and mercenary....
is buried. Abbot Benedikt was also responsible for the palatial claustral buildings with the grand staircase 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,...
. Some forty monks lived in the community, besides about thirty conversi or lay brothers, who lived outside the monastery while following a monastic way of life.
The abbey was secularised
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....
in 1802, when it was taken over by the Kingdom of Württemberg
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
. The furnishings and contents were removed to Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, and the buildings used initially for the accommodation of local government administration. From 1810 to 1975, Schöntal Abbey was one of the buildings used for the Evangelical Theological Seminary (Evangelisch-theologisches Seminar or Seminar Maulbronn), now the Evangelical Seminaries of Maulbronn and Blaubeuren
Evangelical Seminaries of Maulbronn and Blaubeuren
The Protestant Seminaries of Maulbronn and Blaubeuren in Baden-Württemberg, Germany are two Gymnasiums and Protestant boarding schools in the Württemberg tradition....
.
Today the buildings are used by the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
The Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. The diocese is located in the Württemberg part of the German State of Baden-Württemberg.-History:...
as a centre for conferences, retreats and training, as well as the town hall of the community of Schöntal.
Most of the Baroque buildings and the monastery gardens have survived.
Sources and references
Schöntal Abbey website Schöntal Abbey church website Klöster in Baden-Württemberg: Zisterzienserabtei Schöntal- Württembergisches Klosterbuch, p. 433 ff. Thorbecke Ostfildern 2003, ISBN 3-7995-0220-3
- H. Hummel: Kloster Schöntal, Schöntal 1991
- J. Brümmer: Kunst und Herrschaftsanspruch. Abt Benedikt Knittel (1650-1732) und sein Wirken im Zisterzienserkloster Schöntal (Forschungen aus Württembergisch Franken 40), Sigmaringen 1994
- M. M. Rückert: Von der frommen Adelsstiftung zur reichsunmittelbaren Abtei: Kloster Schöntal in den ersten 250 Jahren seines Bestehens, in: D. R. Bauer (ed.): Unter Beobachtung der heiligen Regel. Zisterziensische Spiritualität und Kultur im baden-württembergischen Franken (Forschungen aus Württembergisch Franken 48)., Stuttgart 2002, pp. 25–38