Kloster Stetten, Dominican monastery in Stetten, Hechingen, Germany
Kloster Stetten is a Dominican monastery in Hechingen featuring a single-nave church with Gothic elements and slender tracery windows within its polygonal choir section. The church structure displays typical architectural details from this period, surrounded by the monastery buildings.
The monastery was founded in 1267 by Count Friedrich V of Zollern and his wife Udilhild von Dillingen, initially following Augustinian monastic rules. The community later transitioned to the Dominican order, which shaped its spiritual direction for centuries to come.
The church houses religious artworks spanning several centuries, including a 15th-century sacramental tabernacle and a baroque pulpit from 1738. These pieces reflect how the community expressed their faith through different artistic periods.
The church remains accessible during daytime hours, though it is helpful to contact the Hechingen Tourist Office or the Klosterkirche Association in advance to arrange a visit. This preparation ensures that someone can welcome you and provide information about the space.
Gundi Salva Utz, the final Dominican sister, lived alone within the monastery walls and sustained herself by cultivating medicinal herbs and producing herbal liqueurs. Her solitary life reflects a remarkable personal story of resilience and self-sufficiency within these sacred walls.
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