Edelstetten Abbey

Edelstetten, Germany

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Edelstetten Abbey in Bavaria, Germany, is a former Augustinian convent founded in 1126 and dedicated to Saints John the Baptist and Paul. The abbey experienced multiple destructions, including during the 14th century, the Peasants' War in 1525, and the Thirty Years' War in 1632, but was rebuilt each time.

Its current Baroque-style buildings, constructed mainly between 1680 and 1725 by architect Michael Thumb, feature richly decorated interiors with significant stucco work and frescoes, including the famous Abbey crib frescoes. In 1783, it was elevated to an imperial abbey, a semi-sovereign entity within the Holy Roman Empire.

After secularization in the early 19th century, it passed to the Esterházy family, who still own it. The abbey church remains active as the parish church of Edelstetten, while other parts serve as a museum and cultural site, noted for its architectural beauty and artistic heritage. The abbey also had an unusual rule allowing choir members to resign and marry, reflecting its role in educating Swabian nobility's daughters.