The three-nave basilica is among the most beautiful convent churches of the Upper Swabia region of Germany. Its exterior is characterized by the slim forms striving upward toward the heavens. The large medieval tracery window dominates the eastern side.Inside massive cross-shaped arcade piers separate the low aisles from the nave, making it appear all the higher. The nave is crowned by fine net vaulting with colored keystones and accompanying decorative painting.
The focus of attention is the large window with four vertical sections in the choir. Its colorful glass paintings were produced around 1312/1315 in a workshop in Constance and is one of the most important church windows from the early 14th century in the German Southwest today. It depicts various saints, Mary and the figure of the founder Abbess Elisabeth of Stephelm (died 1312). At the top in the tracery work a leaf and vine motif can be found, and Christ is portrayed in the crowning cinquefoil. The hair, neck and eyes of this figure are primarily reminiscent of the illuminations of the Weingarten Song Manuscripts.
Wall paintings from the years around 1533 have been preserved on the vaulting fields of the nave, the choir arch, the eastern pair of pillars and the lower section of the choir walls. These are all attributed to the Master of Meßkirch. The frescos on the northern and eastern wall of the choir depict the Preaching of the Gospel, the Divine Retribution, the Rain of Manna and the Three Holy Kings together with Herod and on the way to Bethlehem. The eastern wall shows the birth of Christ and the adoration. These works are in the late Gothic painting tradition of the Swabian region.
A particular rarity from the medieval appointments of the convent church has been preserved, i.e. a group with Christ and John. This sculpture, an outstanding walnut carving, was produced around 1330 and was originally painted by an artist from Constance. It symbolizes the special relationship between Christ and John. The favorite disciple lays his head on the Savior’s chest. This intimate depiction of the “Christ-John-Minne” was primarily one of the most popular devotional pictures in the convents of the Upper Swabia region. Nevertheless, few have been preserved until today.
To the west lies the Nuns’ Gallery (Nonnenempore). With its late Gothic crucifix, the choir stalls, the Baroque ceiling paintings and panel paintings, it is one of the special attractions of the convent. In 1699 this area was separated and the women’s choir was moved from below to this location above. The choir stalls are elaborately adorned with people and the heads of animals, which Martin Zey had produced for the choir in 1532, had been moved to the gallery. The stuccowork decorations were created in 1729 by Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer.
