Marmoutier Abbey, otherwise Maursmünster Abbey, was a Benedictine monastery in the commune of Marmoutier in Alsace. The former abbey church now serves as the village's parish church.
About 724 Saint Pirmin reformed the Columban monasteries in Alsace, including this one, introducing the Rule of St. Benedict. The first abbot under the new rule was Maurus,[2] from whom the place took the name of Maursmünster in German, of which Marmoutier is the French version.
Marmoutier abbey was rebuilt in the ninth century by Drogo of Metz.[2] Under Abbot Meinhard and his successors in the 12th century, the abbey enjoyed a long period of growth and prosperity, including the consolidation of the large territory. In the 12th century the abbey church of St. Stephen's was built, which still stands today as an imposing Romanesque church. The west end, with its three massive towers, is especially striking.
In the 13th and 14th centuries the abbey began to decline, becoming involved in long wrangles over its properties, mostly with the family of Geroldseck, lords of the town of Maursmünster, now Marmoutier, that had grown up round the abbey. The abbey was also badly damaged during the German Peasants' War in 1525, when a mob ransacked the building and destroyed the library, and again in the Thirty Years' War, when it was plundered by Ernst von Mansfeld's soldiers in 1621.[2] Under the Peace of Westphalia at the end of the war (1648), Alsace was transferred to France.
The latter part of the 17th century saw a revival of the abbey's fortunes, and in the 18th century, particularly under abbots Anselm Moser and Placid Schweighäuser, re-building was undertaken, including the quire of the church in the 1760s. However, the French Revolution saw the dissolution of the monastery and the demolition or sale of all its buildings.
The church survives as the parish church, and other monastic buildings now serve as the presbytery and the mairie. The church is located on the Route Romane d'Alsace. With a total length of 74 metres (243 feet), it is one of the most imposing Christian sanctuaries in that part of Alsace.
Referencesedit
^Sitzmann, Édouard (1878). Aperçu sur l'histoire politique et religieuse de l'Alsace. Paul Pélot. p. 20.
^ abcGreat Britain. Naval Intelligence Division. A Manual of Alsace-Lorraine, Volume 2, H.M. Stationery Office, 1919, p. 176
Sourcesedit
Will, R. (intro by H. Haug), 1966. Das romanische Elsass, pp. 143–211. Zodiaque (German edition).
Goldinger, Walter, 1938. Die Verfassung des Klosters Maursmünster im Elsaß, in: Zeitschrift für die Geschichte des Oberrheins, 90, 1938.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marmoutier Abbey in Alsace.
Alsace-Passion.com: St. Etienne's church, Marmoutier (in French)
marmoutier, abbey, alsace, abbey, near, tours, marmoutier, abbey, tours, marmoutier, abbey, otherwise, maursmünster, abbey, benedictine, monastery, commune, marmoutier, alsace, former, abbey, church, serves, village, parish, church, imperial, abbey, marmoutier. For the abbey near Tours see Marmoutier Abbey Tours Marmoutier Abbey otherwise Maursmunster Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in the commune of Marmoutier in Alsace The former abbey church now serves as the village s parish church Imperial Abbey of MarmoutierReichskloster Morsmunster de Abbaye imperiale de Marmoutier fr Reichskloschter Maschminschter gsw 659 1789Coat of armsWest facade of the former abbey church in the main street of MarmoutierStatusImperial AbbeyCapitalMarmoutier AbbeyGovernmentTheocracyHistorical eraMiddle Ages Establishedby 659 Refounded by Saint Pirmin728 Sacked during Peasants War1525 Sacked by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years War1621 Dissolved during the French Revolutionca 1789Preceded by Succeeded by Francia French First RepublicToday part ofFrance Contents 1 History 2 References 3 Sources 4 External linksHistory editSee also Eglise Saint Martin Marmoutier The first foundation by Saint Leobard around 590 1 was a community of Irish monks under the Rule of St Columbanus Then known as Aquileia after the town in Italy it was one of the Merovingian abbeys and a Reichsabtei About 724 Saint Pirmin reformed the Columban monasteries in Alsace including this one introducing the Rule of St Benedict The first abbot under the new rule was Maurus 2 from whom the place took the name of Maursmunster in German of which Marmoutier is the French version Marmoutier abbey was rebuilt in the ninth century by Drogo of Metz 2 Under Abbot Meinhard and his successors in the 12th century the abbey enjoyed a long period of growth and prosperity including the consolidation of the large territory In the 12th century the abbey church of St Stephen s was built which still stands today as an imposing Romanesque church The west end with its three massive towers is especially striking In the 13th and 14th centuries the abbey began to decline becoming involved in long wrangles over its properties mostly with the family of Geroldseck lords of the town of Maursmunster now Marmoutier that had grown up round the abbey The abbey was also badly damaged during the German Peasants War in 1525 when a mob ransacked the building and destroyed the library and again in the Thirty Years War when it was plundered by Ernst von Mansfeld s soldiers in 1621 2 Under the Peace of Westphalia at the end of the war 1648 Alsace was transferred to France The latter part of the 17th century saw a revival of the abbey s fortunes and in the 18th century particularly under abbots Anselm Moser and Placid Schweighauser re building was undertaken including the quire of the church in the 1760s However the French Revolution saw the dissolution of the monastery and the demolition or sale of all its buildings The church survives as the parish church and other monastic buildings now serve as the presbytery and the mairie The church is located on the Route Romane d Alsace With a total length of 74 metres 243 feet it is one of the most imposing Christian sanctuaries in that part of Alsace References edit Sitzmann Edouard 1878 Apercu sur l histoire politique et religieuse de l Alsace Paul Pelot p 20 a b c Great Britain Naval Intelligence Division A Manual of Alsace Lorraine Volume 2 H M Stationery Office 1919 p 176Sources editWill R intro by H Haug 1966 Das romanische Elsass pp 143 211 Zodiaque German edition Goldinger Walter 1938 Die Verfassung des Klosters Maursmunster im Elsass in Zeitschrift fur die Geschichte des Oberrheins 90 1938 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marmoutier Abbey in Alsace Alsace Passion com St Etienne s church Marmoutier in French 48 41 26 N 7 22 57 E 48 69056 N 7 38250 E 48 69056 7 38250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marmoutier Abbey Alsace amp oldid 1145175399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
