The abbey was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Nicholas, and was founded in 1126/7 within the bishopric of Würzburg by Conrad III of Germany, It was dissolved during the secularisation of Bavaria in 1803. The abbey church became the local parish church.This monastery was the third Cistercian abbey in Germany and the oldest and most important in Franconia. Sponsors and patrons of Ebrach abbey at that time were the prince bishops of Wuerzburg and the noblemen and patricians from the country and municipalities that surrounded the monastery. The great Franconian architects Leonhard Dientzenhofer, Josef Greising and Balthasar Neumann designed the Baroque grounds of the former Cistercian abbey. Luckily they maintained the Gothic church with its wonderful rose window.
I have yet to spend enough time in this remarkable complex : only just popped in en route in 1990.Strictly it could fall outside the brief of this site as the church is Gothic with Baroque additions. But this was so common and the remains of the Abbey are so striking.The twin organs in the choir are remarkable and they are largely unchanged since the 18th century. Have a listen on the attached YouTube video. Would be even better there!
I hope to fill out this post as more information becomes available to me.
The magnificent monastery church has got three organs. The most precious are two choir organs made by Joh. Chr, Köhler/ Frankfurt in the middle of the 18. century. They are still in a nearly original state.
THe Kaisersaal is used for concerts, especially in the Summer Festival.
Sacristy door with the Miracle of Pentecost by J.B.Brenno above the door.Real Baroque exuberance!
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