Town and Monastery
Alpirsbach is characterized by the central location of the monastery in the center of the town. Many former monastery buildings have meanwhile been integrated in the town structure. These include the old Monastery Administrative Building (Oberamtei), the former Monastery Treasury (Kameralamt) and the current town hall (Rathaus). The tearing down of the walls surrounding the monastery, the changes in its use, the demolition of buildings and the connection of the city to the railroad network at the end of the 19th century resulted in irretrievable losses.
In the Middle of the Black Forest
Alpirsbach Monastery lies in a woodland area cleared during the Middle Ages, which was connected to more densely populated areas not by major roads or waterways, but instead only by the large and small Kinzig rivers. In Alpirsbach the monks found a flood-free site, fresh springwater and arable land. This property rich in forests and fish was very valuable to the monastery economy. The monks operated sawmills and fish ponds, and the monastery held the rights to hunting, forestry, fishing and the rafting of timber. Today those looking for relaxation enjoy the hiking and health resort facilities offered by the Black Forest town of Alpirsbach.