Archiconvent der Templer, Church building at Birkenleiten, Munich, Germany.
The Archiconvent der Templer occupies a former entrepreneur's villa built in 1880 at Birkenleiten 35 in Untergiesing, on the Auer Mühlbach. Its white stucco facade is dominated by a 67-metre tower whose 18-metre onion dome carries the order's patriarchal cross and is ringed by four smaller towers with Jerusalem crosses. A blue clock face with gold markings sits below the dome.
The community was founded in 1936 by Karl Hirn from Seeshaupt. After the Second World War its members moved to Untergiesing and acquired the former Winterhalter villa in 1968, rebuilding it in neo-Gothic style. The association was entered in the Munich register of associations on 17 July 1974 and joined the Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband on 26 November 1974, gaining charitable status.
The community was founded in 1936 by Karl Hirn from Seeshaupt and moved to Untergiesing after the Second World War. It lives in strict enclosure, so the monastery itself is not open to visitors; what neighbours notice is the daily distribution of food to people in need. The 21 bells, cast by Bachert in Kochendorf between 1980 and 1985, are rung in full only on the Lord's feasts, with partial motifs heard at 15:00 on other days.
The monastery stands at Birkenleiten 35 in Untergiesing, on the Auer Mühlbach about 200 m north of the Kraemer'sche Kunstmühle. The community lives in strict cloister, so the interior is not open to visitors; the towers and facade can be viewed from the street. Food is distributed daily to people in need.
The bell set is among Germany's largest: 21 bells spread across the grounds, cast by the Bachert foundry in Kochendorf between 1980 and 1985. The largest measures 2012 mm across and weighs 5220 kg; the smallest is 236 mm and 11 kg. The full peal is reserved for the Lord's feasts; on other days partial motifs sound at 3 pm.
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