User:Silverbone/Sandbox/Neresheim Abbey

The Neresheim Abbey or Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra, Neresheim (Abtei Neresheim or Abtei der heiligen Ulrich und Afra) lies on a hill above the city of Neresheim in the Ostalbkreis district of Baden-Württemburg in southern Germany. It belongs to the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. The patron saints of the abbey are Saint Ulrich of Augsburg and  Saint Afra.

First Foundation
The abbey was founded in 1095 as a monastery for Augustinian Canons by Count Hartmann von Dillingen, but was changed to a Benedictine abbey in 1106 during the Hirsau Reforms.

The current abbey church was built between 1747 and 1792 from the plans of Balthasar Neumann. The frescoes were painted by south- tyrolean painter Martin Knoller and the main organ was built by Johann Nepomuk Holzay from Ottobeuren. After many changes, the organ was restored to it's original state in 1979.

The church was closed during the secularization of 1802.

Second Foundation
1919 brought about the resettlement of the abbey by Benedictine monks from the abbeys of Beuron and Emaus (Prague). This was enabled by the princes of Thurn and Taxis, who gained possession of the lands surrounding Neresheim. The monks undertook the keeping of a conference center and guest house, offering retreats and courses for spiritual training.

In 1920, the abbey joined the Beuronese Congregation, a group of German-speaking Benedictine churches.

The church closed between 1966 and 1975 to undergo restorations.

On February 13, 2004, Father Albert Knebel founded the "Knabenchor Abtei Neresheim" (Neresheim Abbey Boys' Choir). This choir gives boys of ages six to fifteen a well-rounded musical education. The group sings regularly in services at both the abbey church and at performances outside of the abbey.

Today, the convent at the Neresheim Abbey consists of 14 monks and has been led by Abbot Norbert Stoffels since 1977.

List of Abbots
This is an incomplete list.


 * 1140-1164 Ortlieb
 * 1510-1529 Johannes Vinsternau
 * 1545-1566 Johannes Schweickhofer
 * 1584-1616 Melchior Ηänlin
 * 1682-1702 Simpert Niggl
 * 1739-1755 Aurelius Braisch
 * 1755-1787 Benedikt III, Maria Angehrn
 * 1921-1965 Bernhard Durst
 * 1965-1977 Johannes Kraus
 * 1977-present Norbert Stoffels

Miscellaneous
Part of the church is pictured on the back of the 50 DM bill printed from 1991 to 2002, along with other works of Neumann, who is pictured on the front.