Ebrach Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Bavaria, Germany.
Ebrach Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Bavaria featuring a Gothic church distinguished by a large rose window and three aisles. Multiple Baroque buildings frame the church, arranged around a series of courtyards.
Founded in 1127 by nobleman Berno, this was the first Cistercian monastery established east of the Rhine. At its peak, it housed more than 300 monks living according to the order's strict rules.
The abbey church held a special role in the lives of Würzburg bishops, who chose to have their hearts buried here while their bodies lay elsewhere, a practice that lasted for centuries. This custom made the place a center for remembrance and spiritual devotion in the region.
The complex is open to visitors from April through October, with both the church and museum accessible during these months. Guided tours are available most days of the week during daylight hours.
Part of the former monastery now houses a youth detention facility, creating an unusual situation where a heritage monument doubles as an active correctional institution. This arrangement means that not all areas of the complex are open to public view.
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