Saturday, 29 June 2024

The Imperial Abbey Of Zwiefalten.



English: Zwiefalten Abbey.
Deutsche: Zwiefalten: Ehemalige Benedektinerabtei, Das Innere des MünstersFresken von Franz Joseph Spiegler, 
Stuck von Johann Michael Feuchtmayer d. J.
Photo: March 2003.
Source: Own work.
Author: Andreas Praefcke.
(Wikimedia Commons)


English: The Minster of Our Lady, Zwiefalten, Germany.
Deutsch: Münster Unserer Lieben Frau in der Benediktinerabtei Zwiefalten.
Photo: 13 August 2021.
Source: Own work.
Author: Dionysos1970.
(Wikimedia Commons)


English: The Minster of Our Lady, Zwiefalten, Germany.
Deutsch: Münster Unserer Lieben Frau in Zwiefalten, 
Baden-Württemberg.
Photo: 6 February 2020.
Source: Own work.
Author: Olga Ernst.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless otherwise stated.

Zwiefalten Abbey (German: Kloster Zwiefalten, Abtei Zwiefalten, or, after 1750, Reichsabtei Zwiefalten) is a former Benedictine Monastery situated at Zwiefalten, near Reutlingen, in Baden-WürttembergGermany

Zwiefalten is on the Upper Swabian Baroque Route.

The Monastery was Founded in 1089 at the time of the Investiture Controversy by Counts Gero and Kuno of Achalm, advised by Bishop Adalbero of Würzburg and Abbot William of Hirsau



Side Chapels, Zwiefalten Abbey.
Photo: 10 June 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Gregor Kollmorgen.

The first Monks were also from Hirsau Abbey, home of the Hirsau Reforms (under the influence of the Cluniac Reforms), which strongly influenced the new foundation. Noker von Zwiefalten was the first Abbot from 1065 – 1090. Zwiefalten adopted the “Hirsau Reforms” of Abbot William of Hirsau.[1]

Starting around 1100, Zweifalten was, for a time, a Double-Abbey. Gertrude (
 1160), daughter of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland, was a Nun at Zweifalten. Her mother, Salomea of Berg, was a generous patron.[2]


Zwiefalten, Baden Württemberg, Germany.
Available on YouTube

The Monk, Ortlieb, wrote a history of the Monastery in the Early-12th-Century. Berthold continued it to 1137–1138.[3]

During the 12th-Century, Saint Ernest (
☩ 1148)[4] was Abbot. Between 1145 and 1149, he participated in The Second Crusade to regain The Holy Land.[5]



The Pulpit, Zwiefalten Abbey.
Photo: 10 June 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Gregor Kollmorgen.

Although Pope Urban VI granted special privileges to it, Zwiefalten Abbey was nevertheless the private Monastery of the Counts of Achalm, later succeeded by the Counts of Württemberg. The Abbey was plundered in 1525 during the German Peasants' War.

Christoph Rassler was Abbot from 1658–1675 and Augustin Stegmüller was Abbot in the 18th-Century. In 1739, work commenced on the Abbey, which continued by Johann Michael Fischer until 1765. It is considered a model of integrated Baroque design. Frescoes in the Church by Franz Joseph Spiegler are considered his best work.[6]


The High Altar in Zwiefalten Münster, combining
a Gothic statue of Mary (1430) with Baroque additions 
by Joseph Christian, circa 1750.
Photo: 3 June 1990.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)

In 1750, the Abbey was granted the status of Reichsabtei, which meant that it had the status of an Independent Power, subject only to the Imperial Crown, and was free of the rule of Württemberg. 

Benedictine Ernest Weinrauch was a highly-respected Organ player and Contrapuntist, who composed an Oratorio at Zwiefalten.



This Confessional in Zwiefalten Abbey, Germany, 
must be the most beautiful Confessional in the World.
Go to Confession in luxury and style !!!
Photo: 10 June 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Gregor Kollmorgen.

On 25 November 1802, however, it was secularised and dissolved, and became a lunatic asylum and, later, psychiatric hospital, which it is today, as well as the site of the Württemberg Psychiatry Museum.

The present buildings were constructed in German Baroque Style from 1739 – 1747 under the direction of Johann Michael Fischer (1692 – 1766) of Munich, who began overseeing the work in 1741. 


The Nave, Zwiefalten Abbey.
Photo: 10 June 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Gregor Kollmorgen.

The Interior, considered a model of Baroque design, is filled with ornate Chapels and gilded Balustrades, dominated by The High Altar, which combines a Gothic statue of The Virgin Mary, dating from 1430, with Baroque additions (dating from about 1750) by Johann Joseph Christian (1706 – 1777). The elaborate frescoes are by Franz Joseph Spiegler (1691 – 1757).[7]


Zwiefalten Abbey.
Photo: March 2003.
Source: Own work.
Author: Andreas Praefcke.
(Wikimedia Commons)


The Imperial Abbey of Zwiefalten.
Available on YouTube

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