Weltenburg Abbey
| Kloster Weltenburg | |
Weltenburg Abbey as seen across the Danube
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 Location within Germany
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Benedictines |
| Established | 7th century, 1842 |
| Disestablished | 1803 |
| Dedicated to | Saint George |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Baroque |
| Site | |
| Location | Weltenburg, Kelheim, Germany |
| Coordinates | 48°53′56″N 11°49′11″E / 48.89889°N 11.81972°ECoordinates: 48°53′56″N 11°49′11″E / 48.89889°N 11.81972°E |
| Public access | partial |
Weltenburg Abbey (Kloster Weltenburg) is a Benedictine monastery in Weltenburg near Kelheim on the Danube in Bavaria, Germany.
The abbey is situated on a peninsula in the Danube, on the so-called "Weltenburg Narrows" or the .
The monastery, founded by monks of the Hiberno-Scottish mission in about 620, is held to be the oldest monastery in Bavaria.
According to tradition, the abbey was founded in 617 by Agilus and Eustace of Luxeuil, both students of Columbanus.
Reportedly during the first half of the 8th century, the abbey took on the rules of the Benedictine order and was supported by Tassilo III.
By 932 at the latest, the abbey was under control of the Bishop of Regensburg. Wolfgang of Regensburg had a residence built on the Frauenberg above today's abbey. The abbey church (replaced in 1716) was consecrated in 1191, a single nave building with a crypt. Under abbot Konrad V (1441-50), the church, abbey buildings were renovated and life in the abbey reformed.
It was not until the 18th century, that Weltenburg Abbey rose to prominence under abbot Maurus Bächl (1713-43). To his period date the current monastery courtyard with its Baroque buildings, the highlight of which is the abbey church, dedicated to Saint George, which was built by the Asam Brothers between 1716 and 1739.
Following a confiscation of the abbey's silver and a ban on accepting novices, the abbey was officially dissolved on 18 March 1803 during the secularization of Bavaria. The abbey brewery and other economy buildings found buyers, but the church and convent could not be sold. In 1812, they became the parish house, school, teacher house and parish church for Weltenburg village.
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