Germany - Ebrach, Abbey Church

The (former) Cistercian abbey in Ebrach was founded in the year of 1127 by a nobleman Berno and was the oldest and most important of its kind in Franconia. The abbey was settled by twelve monks from Morimond Abbey in Burgundy. The first church was dedicated in 1134.

Throughout the centuries the monastery has endured wars, fires and looting. In the Thirty Years War (1618 – 1648) it lost its precious church treasure, which was captured by the Swedes. It was not until the 17th century that the economy improved. The abbey was dissolved during the secularisation in 1803 and the properties were transferred to Bavaria. The abbey church became the local parish church of Ebrach.

The construction of the present abbey church started in 1200, after which the consecration took place in 1285. The church unites many architectural styles: the building is early Gothic in style, the interior is mainly in baroque style with elements in rococo -, renaissance - and classicist style. Particularly striking is the colour scheme in yellow and white - the Catholic colours - mixed with light pink. Columns in marble style, ornaments, reliefs and figures in white, the beautiful play of light and the large rose window (see: www.ipernity.com/doc/cammino/47482756 ) give the church a special look.