Nothing of the late Romanesque monastery complex has been preserved. The oldest remains from the time around 1282 include the Gate Chapel (Torkapelle) of St. Kilian. It was probably built around 1320. The east wall in the choir is decorated with a rosette, an ornament with a circular shape that reproduces a star-shaped flower. This adornment is an architectural element typical of the Gothic period. The Cistercian Order is considered to be the conveyor of the Gothic and provided, among other things, for the spreading of this style.
The Old Abbey, built in 1617 to 1618, is decorated with a crow-step pediment typical of the Renaissance. Based on the example of classical antiquity and richly decorated with volutes, this pediment structures the roof and the facade. Despite its triangular shape directed upward, it emphasizes the horizontal axis of the building, unifying the Renaissance ideals of symmetry and proportion..
The Schöntal Monastery Church (Klosterkirche) unfolds a representative Baroque splendor both on its exterior and inside. The richly decorated portal stands under mighty onion-shaped towers, and inside with its high altar it exhibits the entire dynamic nature of a Baroque program of paintings and sculptures. The room almost appears to vibrate..
The staircase in the New Abbey (Neue Abtei) at Schöntal Monastery built in the style of the Rococo soars up in an impressive room. Gilded "Rocaillen" (richly carved shells) and filigreed figures adorn the railings. The term "Rococo" is derived from the French word "rocaille" (shell work), and therefore the shell is the dominant style aspect in the ornaments. The staircase permits breathtaking views into adjoining rooms and of the staircase itself, intensifying the way viewers experience the room.