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English: Imperial Abbey of Ottobeuren.
Deutsch: Reichskloster Ottobeuren.
Fassade der spätbarocken Basilika in Ottobeuren.
Erbaut von 1737-1766 von Simpert Kramer (bis 1748) und Johann Michael Fischer.
Русский: Оттобойрен.
Photo: 19. Mai 2004 / erste Veröffentlichung in Wikimedia Commons: 11. Juli 2005.
Source: Own work.
Author: Simon Brixel Wbrix.
Permission: Dieses Bild darf frei verwendet werden. Es gelten die Lizenz-Bedingungen der Creative Commons 'Namensnennung - Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen 2.0 Deutschland'
(Wikimedia Commons)
Photo: 18 April 2009.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Ottobeuren is a
Benedictine Abbey, located in
Ottobeuren, near
Memmingen, in the
Bavarian Allgäu,
Germany.
For part of its history, Ottobeuren Abbey was one of the 40-odd, self-ruling, Imperial Abbeys of the Holy Roman Empire, and, as such, was a virtually independent State. At the time of its dissolution, in 1802, the Imperial Abbey covered 266 square kilometers and had about 10,000 subjects.
It was founded in 764 A.D., by Blessed Toto, and dedicated to
Saint Alexander, the Martyr. Of its early history little is known beyond the fact that Toto, its first Abbot, died about 815 A.D., and that
Saint Ulrich was its Abbot in 972 A.D.
Rococo interior of Ottobeuren Abbey, Ottobeuren, Germany.
Photo: 4 October 2009.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)
In the 11th-Century, its discipline was on the decline, until Abbot Adalhalm (1082–94) introduced the
Hirsau Reform. The same Abbot began a restoration of the decaying buildings, which was completed along with the addition of a Convent for noble Ladies, by his successor, Abbot Rupert I (1102–45). Under the rule of the latter, the newly-founded
Marienberg Abbey was recruited with Monks from Ottobeuren Abbey. His successor, Abbot Isengrim (1145–80), wrote
Annales minores and
Annales majores.
Blessed Conrad of Ottobeuren was Abbot, from 1193 until his death in 1227, and was described by the Benedictines as a "lover of the brethren and of the poor".
In 1153, and again in 1217, the Abbey was consumed by fire. In the 14th-Century and 15th-Century, it declined so completely that, at the accession of Abbot Johann Schedler (1416–43), only six or eight Monks were left, and its annual revenues did not exceed 46 Silver Marks.
Altar of the Holy Cross,
Photo: 17 April 2009.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Under Abbot Leonard Wiedemann (1508–46), it again began to flourish: He erected a printing establishment and a Common House of Studies for the
Swabian Benedictines. The latter, however, was soon closed, owing to the ravages of the
Thirty Years' War.
Ottobeuren became an
Imperial Abbey in 1299, but lost this status after the
Prince-Bishop of Augsburg had become
Vogt of the Abbey. These Rights were renounced after a Court Case at the
Reichskammergericht in 1624. In 1710, the Abbey regained its status as an Imperial Abbey, but did not become a Member of the
Swabian Circle.
Altar of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica at
Photo: 17 April 2009.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Photo: 18 April 2009.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The most flourishing period, in the history of Ottobeuren Abbey, began with the accession of Abbot Rupert Ness (1710–40) and lasted until its secularisation in 1802. From 1711-1725, Abbot Rupert erected the present Monastery, the architectural grandeur of which has merited for it the name of "the Swabian
Escorial". In 1737, he also began the building of the present Church, completed by his successor, Anselm Erb, in 1766. In the zenith of its glory, Ottobeuren Abbey fell prey to the greediness of the Bavarian Government. In 1803, Ottobeuren became part of
Bavaria. At that time, the territory had about 12,000 inhabitants and an area of some 165 km2 (64 sq mi).
Basilica of Ottobeuren Abbey.
Photo: 21 May 2007.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)
In 1834, King
Louis I of Bavaria restored it as a Benedictine Priory, dependent on
Saint Stephen's Abbey, Augsburg. It was granted the status of an Independent Abbey in 1918.
As of 1910, the Community consisted of five Fathers, sixteen
Lay Brothers, and one Lay Novice, who had, under their charge, the Parish of Ottobeuren, a District School, and an Industrial School for poor boys.
English: The Holy Ghost Organ, Ottobeuren Basilica.
Deutsch: Chorgestühl mit Heilig-Geist-Orgel (F10), Basilika Ottobeuren.
Photo: 3 March 2009.
Source: Own work.
Permission: Own work, copyleft: Multi-license with GFDL and
Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-2.5 and older versions (2.0 and 1.0)
(Wikimedia Commons)
Ottobeuren has been a Member of the
Bavarian Congregation of the
Benedictine Confederation since 1893.
Ottobeuren Abbey has one of the richest music programmes in Bavaria, with concerts every Saturday. Most concerts feature one or more of the Abbey's famous
organs. The old organ, the masterpiece of French organ-builder,
Karl Joseph Riepp (1710–75), is actually a double organ; it is one of the most treasured historic organs in Europe. It was the main instrument for 200 years, until 1957, when a third organ was added by G. F. Steinmeyer & Co, renovated and augmented in 2002 by Johannes Klais, making 100 stops available on five manuals (or keyboards).
