Lichtenthal Abbey, Lichtental, Germany

Lichtenthal Abbey is a Cistercian nunnery founded in 1245 by Irmengard bei Rhein, widow of Margrave Hermann V of Baden. Her body was brought here in 1248 from Backnang Abbey for re-burial. She seriously over-reached herself financially on the project, however, and was obliged to ask her family for help.

The imposing gateway, built in 1781, leads into a three-sided walled courtyard with a fountain dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, surrounded by the various abbey and domestic buildings, the school, the abbey church, the Prince's Chapel and the hermit's chapel. The Gothic abbey church, of which the choir dates from the 14th century and the nave from the 15th, contains works of art and furnishings of many dates, particularly of the 15th century, as at this time, on the initiative of the Abbess Margaret of Baden, the church interior was lavishly refurbished and ornamented.

The Prince's Chapel was built in 1288, and until 1372 was the burial place of the Margraves of Baden. Here is also the tomb of the foundress, Margravine Irmengard. Besides the tombs, the high altar and several side altars, this chapel also contains the statue of the 'Madonna of the Keys', so called because in times of danger the abbey keys are entrusted to her. (The abbey has until now survived every danger unscathed, as is related in a Baden-Baden drinking song).

The three statues over the gateway are from the nearby ruined All Saints' Abbey and represent Saint Helena, above, Abbot Gerung, first abbot of All Saints, to the left, and his mother and the foundress of All Saints, the Duchess Uta of Schauenburg, to the right, who was a relative of the Margravine Irmengard.

The hermit's chapel, built in 1678, is used as a mortuary chapel for the nuns.

The abbey belongs to the Mehrerau Congregation. The nuns particularly devote themselves to teaching - the nunnery accommodates the primary school of Lichtenthal - and to religious handicrafts.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Udo Roeschert (3 years ago)
Sehr freundliche und zuvorkommende Zisterzienserinnen. Die Führung war sehr sachkundig und informativ. Wir kommen auf jeden Fall wieder...

Олег Покровский (3 years ago)
Гуляя по аллее Лихтенталь,обязательно надо зайти в эту старинную церковь цистерцианских монахинь,хотя бы ради потрясающих витражей,которые мне понравились больше всего,и алтаря.Основала Лихтентальский монастырь жена местного правителя — маркграфиня Баденская в 13 столетии. С тех пор он работает без перерывов, там и сейчас живут монахини, и работает церковная школа (одна из старейших в городе). Монастырские постройки меняли и дополняли новыми зданиями.Красивая чистая территория монастыря,почти все здания выполнены в стиле готика или поздняя готика.В местном магазине при монастыре купили джемы и ликеры.Рекомендую посетить как самый красивый храм в земле Баден-Вюртемберг.

Marion Gieger (3 years ago)
Sehr schön zum entspannen . Abschalten kann man auf jedenfall

Kirsten Andjelovic (3 years ago)
Sehr guter freundlicher Service für den Gast und die Angebote im Kloster vielseitig

A. Gadient (3 years ago)
Das Kloster Lichtenthal wurde auf Initiative von Markgräfin Irmengards im 13. Jahrhundert errichtet. Es wurde dem Zisterzienserorden zugeeignet. Der Säkularisation zu Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts entging das Kloster dank dem Umstand, dass sie den Status des Hausklosters der badischen Markgrafen innehaben. Die Fürstenkapelle, welche den Gebäudekomplex des Klosters dominiert, ist ein schöner und intetessanter Anblick. Das Gebäude weist unten zwei verzierte Bogenfenster auf, darüber je eine sakrale Figur, über denen verzierte Rundfenster etabliert sind. Im obersten Teil der Front bogenartige Nischen eingelassen, in der Mitte eine Skulptur die ein Kreuz trägt. Der Eingang zur Kirche ist in einem bogenförmigen Rahmen eingelassen, und zieht sich zierend hinauf. Ein schlanker Glockenturm zieht sich über das Kirchenschiff hoch hinaus. Ein schön anzusehendes Kloster, das hier aktiv seine Berufung lebt.

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