Neresheim Abbey

Neresheim Abbey

Neresheim Abbey or Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra, Neresheim (Abtei Neresheim or Abtei der heiligen Ulrich und Afra) is located above the town of Neresheim in Baden-Württemberg. It is now a Benedictine monastery and is part of the Beuronese Congregation.

First foundation

It was founded in 1095 as a monastery of the Augustinian Canons and changed to a Benedictine abbey in 1106.

The present abbey church was built between 1747 and 1792 to plans by Balthasar Neumann. On the 50-DM banknote that was current between 1998 and 2002, the abbey appeared on the reverse (the obverse showed Balthasar Neumann). The abbey was dissolved during the secularisation of 1803 and transferred to theThurn und Taxis until 1806 due to the Napoleoic invasion.

Second foundation

In 1919, the abbey was resettled by Benedictines from Beuron Archabbey and the Emaus Abbey in Prague.

The monks run a conference centre and guesthouse, and offer courses and spiritual training. In 2004, the monastery set up the Neresheim Abbey Boys' Choir, which provides a free musical education and voice training. The choir sings regularly at services in the abbey church at Neresheim and also makes appearances outside the monastery.

External links

• (German) Neresheim Abbey Homepage
• (German) Baroque at Neresheim