Weissenau Abbey, Former Premonstratensian monastery in Ravensburg, Germany
Weissenau Abbey is a former Premonstratensian monastery in Ravensburg, Germany, rebuilt in baroque style between 1708 and 1724. Its long pale-yellow facade with rows of rectangular windows and a red tiled roof is flanked by two towers with grey-green domed cupolas. A wide arched entrance sits at the centre of the ground floor, and string courses separate the storeys.
The monastery was founded in 1145 and soon gained imperial recognition, which strengthened its standing in the region. After secularization in the early 19th century, the buildings were repurposed, though the church and much of the baroque fabric survived.
For centuries, the abbey drew pilgrims from across the region because Emperor Rudolf I donated a relic considered sacred, giving the site a strong religious pull. Today, the church still holds regular services, and visitors can step inside to see the baroque interior as it was intended to be used.
The site now operates as a psychiatric hospital, so access to most buildings is restricted. The church is open for services and events, and it is worth checking in advance which parts of the grounds are open to visitors.
The Festsaal, still used for concerts, owes its stucco work to Anton Unold, who completed the monastic buildings between 1724 and 1765; Franz Beer had planned the baroque rebuilding from 1708 and the church from 1717. The hall's decoration is a detail visitors often overlook.
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