The former Benedictine monastery rises up impressively on a hill overlooking the town named after it. It was founded at the end of the 11th century as a filial monastery of St. Blasien in the Black Forest after the noble family von Wolfertschwenden had given the monastery landholdings around what is today the town of Ochsenhausen. In 1093 the Monastery Church (Klosterkirche) was consecrated to Saint George. The "Priory of Ochsenhausen" was at first a small monastery with only a few monks.
Through growing prosperity and as a partisan of Pope Urban VI in the "Great Western Schism", Ochsenhausen Monastery obtained independence. In 1391 it was raised to an autonomous abbey. The development to an imperial monastery had continued to progress since the 15th century with the arrogation of the bailiff's residence, with which the Monastery independently reigned over its estates and exercised jurisdiction. In 1495 the Pope presented Abbot Simon Lengenberger the "pontificals" (Episcopal insignias), and with that Ochsenhausen was an imperial abbey.
At the same time, between 1489 and 1497, the simple Romanesque Church of St. George (St. Georgskirche) was replaced with a basilica in the Late Gothic style with two towers in the west. Beginning in 1615 extensive additions were made to the monastery buildings. A four-wing complex oriented on the church as the center axis was built according to the plans of the Jesuit brother Stephan Huber. This new building, which was to become a symbol of renewal in the course of the Counter-Reformation, adjoined the medieval abbey in the south. The centralistic building layout, which can still be clearly seen today, is based on its model, the Spanish Escorial.
In the 16th century dissatisfied farmers revolted against the monastery and the burdens placed upon them and plundered the monastery. In the Contract of Vassals (Untertanenvertrag) of 1502 they were assured the inheritability of their farms. In 1545 Protestant soldiers from Ulm occupied Ochsenhausen Monastery in order to introduce the "new doctrine" there. Following the defeat of the Protestants in 1546 in the Smalcaldic War, Ulm withdrew from the monastery by order of Emperor Karl V.
Primarily the Baroque renovations of the 18th century still mark the monastery today. In 1738 the renovation of the south wing was begun, and up until the middle of the 18th century the east wing was rebuilt and provided with a large staircase and a new façade. In the years 1783 to 1787 the north wing was given its new appointments. Here the Chapter Hall (Kapitelsaal), the Armarium with its collection of technical instruments and apparatuses, the Library (Bibliothek) and the Observatory (Sternwarte) were set up or renovated in the southeastern corner tower under the last abbot of Ochsenhausen, Romuald Weltin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The heart of the monastery is the church with its rich stuccowork and frescos, which also serves as the home of one of the most important organs in southern Germany. It was remodeled during the period of the second architectural renewal of the monastery in the 18th century. The monastery's master builder, Christian Wiedemann, designed the western façade and the interior of the church. The ceiling frescos and wall stuccowork, which were created by various artists, contain references to the history of the Order and local occurrences, as well as a representation of the major doctrines of the Catholic Church.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 1803, at the height of its splendor, the monastery fell through Secularization to Franz Georg Prince of Metternich-Winneburg. He at first guaranteed the continued existence of the convent and the "Gymnasium" (secondary school), and expanded the library. In the course of the Prince's merciless financial and economic policies, the population of Ochsenhausen became impoverished. In 1807 Metternich had to close the monastery by order of King Friedrich I of Württemberg. With that, after 714 years, the monastic life came to an end.
In 1825 the Württemberg government bought Ochsenhausen for 1.2 million florins. The social conditions improved rapidly under the influences of the state.
Since the middle of the 19th century the former monastery has been used as an educational institution, i.e. as an agricultural school, an orphanage, a secondary school for women teachers and a State "Aufbaugymnasium" (secondary school based on six or seven years of primary school). Since 1988 the State Academy for the Musical Youth (Landesakademie für die musizierenden Jugend) in Baden-Württemberg has been located here. A state "Hauptschule" (secondary school) and the Monastery Museum (Klostermuseum) are housed in the Prince's Building (Fürstenbau). Concerts and exhibitions also contribute to cultural life within the historic walls.