Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. Second abbess of the monastery btw was Adalrich´s grand daughter Eugenia. Early nunneries often are family affairs e.g. Freckenhorst, Gandersheim..

The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg.

Placed within the cloister (next to the entrance to the restaurant) is a part of a pillar, delicately carved on three sides. During a post-revolutionary raid it got vandalized in 1793, so all faces are missing.

A romanesque madonna holding the child.
Mother and child are well dressed. Mary is wearing her hair in long, delicate braids. While the Jesus´ right hand is blessing, his left hand holds a round object. If this object is a globus cruciger or part of a sceptre, then the missing part above his had could only have been a crown.

Down below are two nuns, holding mother and child. Over the heads are their names: abbess Relindis (left) and abbess Herrad (right).

Relindis (of Bergen) restored discipline here after a temporary decline around 1140. Her direct successor Herrad (of Landsberg) is the author if the illuminated "Hortus Deliciarum", the first known encyclopedia compiled by a woman (~1180).

Sorry for the bad quality of the photo.