Pfarrkirche, Former Benedictine abbey in Aura an der Saale, Germany

The former Benedictine abbey church of St. Laurence in Aura an der Saale is a Romanesque basilica with a central nave and two side aisles, now about 30.8 metres long after the loss of its eastern choir, twin towers and western transept. The three naves survive, but round-arched windows were replaced by oval and flat-headed openings, and the flat ceilings carry stucco, giving the interior a Baroque appearance. The three-storey north tower, about 36 metres high to its domed roof, is post-Gothic with pointed sound windows.

Founded by Bishop Otto of Bamberg around 1108 on the site of an earlier castle, Aura Abbey was settled by monks from Hirsau. Its first abbot, Ekkehard of Aura, continued Frutolf of Michelsberg's world chronicle. After joining the Bursfelde Congregation in 1469, the abbey was destroyed by a mob in 1525, rebuilt, and destroyed again in 1553 during the Margrave's War. It was dissolved in 1564.

The abbey church is dedicated to Saint Laurence, whose figure stands on the high altar carved in 1730, alongside Saints Aquiline, Burkard and Kilian. The village was raised to a parish in 1668 and the monastic church served as its parish church until 29 June 1971, when a new building in the village centre took over.

The site is easy to walk around and explore on foot, with clear paths connecting the different buildings and structures. Visitors should be aware that the complex is under monument protection, so some areas may have restricted access or be closed for restoration work.

The monastery maintained a strong connection to Hirsau Abbey, which shaped its architectural style and religious practices. This relationship is visible in the building details and layout, which followed the model of its mother house across the region.