Murbach Abbey

Murbach Abbey (

.

The monastery was founded in 727 by Eberhard, Count of Alsace, and established as a Benedictine house by Saint Pirmin. Its territory once comprised three towns and thirty villages. The buildings, including the abbey church, one of the earliest vaulted Romanesque structures, were laid waste in 1789 during the Revolution by the peasantry and the abbey was dissolved shortly afterwards.

Of the 12th-century Romanesque abbey church, dedicated to Saint Leodegar (St. Léger), only the transept remains with its two steeples, and the east end with the quire. The site of the nave now serves as a burial ground. The building is located on the Route Romane d'Alsace.

History

Early history

The founder of the abbey, Count Eberhard, brother of Luitfrid of the

.

Count Eberhard gave the abbey a rich endowment and extensive privileges, including the right of free election of the abbot. The monastery was obliged to have its privileges regularly confirmed and was thus closely dependent on the

Burgundy

in the 7th century.

The abbey was important politically, and

Latin

: Pastor Murbacencis; in a secular sense) in 792–93.

By about 850 Murbach had become one of the intellectual centres of the

Latin

: villa Cressheim in pago Brisachgaginse).

This first period of prosperity ended in 936 with the invasion of Alsace by Hungarians.

Murbach shows signs of decline during the 12th century, although in 1178, the city of Lucerne was founded as a Murbach possession. The abbey was dedicated in 1134. ^[4]

Imperial Abbey

Imperial Abbey of Murbach Abbaye impériale et princière / chapitre collégial-équestral de Murbach (fr) Fürstabtei / Ritterstift Murbach (de)
1228–1680
Coat of arms
Status	France	1680
• Dissolved during     French Revolution	1789
Preceded by Succeeded by Duchy of Swabia Kingdom of France
Today part of	France

Murbach Abbey was granted the status of imperial immediacy in 1228, under abbot Hugues of Rothenburg. Murbach expanded its territorial possessions during the 13th century, mostly in the Alsace, leading to conflicts with the

.

Murbach Abbey sold its rights over the city of

on 16 April 1291. This was a significant event for the

From the 14th century the abbey began gradually to decline in influence although in the 15th and 16th centuries it retained its status as a principality.

The

In c. 1759, under Kasimir Friedrich von Rathsamhausen [de], the abbey was moved to Guebwiller, where the monks soon launched the construction of a new and monumental church, Notre-Dame de Guebwiller. The abbey abandoned the Benedictine Rule and was transformed into a college for members of the nobility (French: chapitre collégial-équestral de Murbach, German: Adeliges Ritterstift Murbach). In 1789 the abbey was dissolved after having been looted by rioting peasants.

List of abbots

Source: Gallia Christiana.^{[year needed]}

See also

• List of Carolingian monasteries

Gallery

• 
  Late medieval tomb of Count Eberhard inside the church
• 
  19th century figure of Saint Pirmin at Murbach Abbey

References

• Philippe Legin: Die Abteikirche von Murbach im Oberelsass. Colmar, Editions S. A. E. P. Ingersheim, 1980
• Otto Feld (1961). "Zur Baugeschichte der Klosterkirche Murbach". Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte. 24 (3/4).
  JSTOR 1481537
  .

External links

• (in German) Romanik im Elsaß: ehemalige Klosterkirche Murbach
• (in Polish) History and photos of Murbach Abbey

47°55′24″N 7°09′29″E / 47.92333°N 7.15806°E / 47.92333; 7.15806