The Cistercian convent can look back on an eventful history. As early as the mid-12th century, a Beguine community was formed in the neighboring village of Altheim. This community consisted especially of women from the nobility and the middle class, who decided of their own accord to devote their lives to the monastic ideal of poverty, celibacy and prayer. This community approached the Abbot of Salem with the request that it be admitted to the local association of monasteries. This request was granted in 1204.
It was probably under the influence of the Cistercian Cardinal Konrad of Urach and Abbot Eberhard II of Salem that this Beguine community purchased the estate “Wasserschapf (Wazzershaf)” from Werner of Altheim in 1227. The knight Konrad of Markdorf, who had held the rights to this domain up to this point, relinquished these to the Beguine community. The community then changed the name of the site to “Heiligkreuztal” (Valley of the Holy Cross) after a cross relic donated to the community.
In1231 the Community was granted a papal privilege of protection (“Privilegium Cisterciense”) and was admitted to the Cistercian Order in 1233. In 1238 Pope Gregor IX placed the convent under the spiritual supervision of the respective father abbot of Salem and also transferred the convent’s protection to the Archbishop of Mainz and the clerics of the church dioceses in the same year.
The convent complex was consecrated in 1256. The late Romanesque Church of Brothers (Bruderkirche) probably originated from this time, and was apparently already expanded with a small, three-nave basilica shortly thereafter. This was connected to the Chapter House (Kapitelhaus) with the Dining Hall (Speisesaal) and the dormitory located above it, supplemented with the Cloister (Kreuzgang), South Track (Südtrakt) and Western Building (Westbau).
In the early 14th century the foundation was laid for a three-nave flat-roofed pier basilica. A “Master Conrad” has been documented as the architect. Around 1312/1315 the stained-glass window with four vertical sections produced in a workshop in Constance was installed on the eastern side. It is one of the most important church windows in the German Southwest from the early 14th century.
The current appearance of the complex in Heiligkreuztal originated largely from the era of the Abbesses Anna III Gremlich (1490-1521) and Veronika of Rietheim (1521-1551). Anna Gremlich had the two aisles provided with net and star-shaped vaulting by the Urach mason and sculptor Joseph Schmid, as is evidenced by the Gremlich coat of arms on one of the keystones. She also commissioned Ulm artisans with new winged altarpieces. In 1532 Veronika of Rietheim ordered the vaulting of the nave and had the windows of the clerestory appointed with tracery work and glazed. Of the painted ornamentation from that time, probably by the Master of Meßkirch, painting has been preserved on the triumphal arch, in the choir and in the vaulting.
The Enclosure area was remodeled between 1533 and 1542. Late Gothic tracery windows were inserted, and the ceilings were vaulted and painted with floral ornaments. Wall frescos with scenes from the Heilsgeschichte have been preserved from this time in the cloister. These are attributed to the Master of Meßkirch. In 1549 a “Pfisterei” (mill and bakery) was built, which still dominates the complex today with its stepped pediment.
In the 17th and 18th century the convent experienced another heyday and the complex was greatly expanded. In 1652 a new abbess’ house was erected to the east of the convent building, and in 1686 a pharmacy with rooms for the ill to the south-west. Other domestic and administrative buildings were also added to these. In 1699 the Abbey Church (Münster) was provided with a new outer portal, the interior was begun and the women’s choir was moved to a gallery, the so-called “Nuns’ Gallery”. Around the same time craftsmen renovated the cell tract and the convent building.
In the course of Secularization the convent fell to Württemberg and the Community was disbanded. However, the convent residents retained their residential rights until the end of their lives. In 1843 the last prior left Heiligkreuztal.
At first a broad range of different administrative offices used the buildings. After World War II an attempt was made to use the convent complex for new purposes. With the exception of the two churches, the complex was finally sold to the Stefanus Community in 1972. Following comprehensive renovation and remodeling work, the Community established a center for religious and economic conferences. At the same time, the state of Baden-Württemberg restored the exterior of the former abbey church.
As a result, today visitors find an excellently preserved four-wing complex with a convent church and enclosure building adjoining to the south, surrounded by the outer Enclosure, the former office houses and the domestic buildings. It is remarkable that this complex reflects both the convent building pattern of the Cistercian Order and the claim of the sovereigns of the Baroque age.
