Ochsenhausen Abbey

thumb|right|Ochsenhausen Abbey
Ochsenhausen Abbey formerly Ochsenhausen Priory (Reichskloster or Reichsabtei Ochsenhausen) was a Benedictine monastery in Ochsenhausen in the district of Biberach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
==History==
The traditional story of the foundation, in which there may be some elements of truth, is that in the 9th century there was a nunnery here called "Hohenhusen", which was abandoned at the time of the Hungarian invasions in the early 10th century. A ploughing ox later turned up a chest of valuables buried by the nuns before their flight, and the monastery of Ochsenhausen was founded on that spot.
The first Abbey Church of Ochsenhausen was in fact dedicated in 1093. The monastery was initially a priory of St. Blaise's Abbey in the Black Forest, but gained the status of an independent abbey in 1391. In 1495 it became "reichsfrei" (territorially independent).
The abbey was secularised in 1803 and in 1806 its territories were absorbed into the Kingdom of Württemberg.
Much of the buildings still survive. They were extensively refurbished in the Baroque style, so much so that Ochsenhausen is sometimes referred to as "Himmelreich des Barocks" ("Baroque heaven"). The Baden-Württemberg State Youth Music Academy is accommodated in part of them. The former abbey church is now the parish church of St. George's.
== External links ==
* Ochsenhausen Town Website
== Images ==
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 001 Nave.JPG|Nave
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 003 altar of the cross.JPG|Altar of the Cross
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 004 altar of the cross.JPG|Crucifixion above Altar of the Cross
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 005 main altar.JPG|Main altarCrowning of Mary
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 007 Organ.JPG|Organ
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 008 Pulpit.JPG|Pulpit
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 010 Pulpit.JPG|An angel carrying the pulpit
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 014 Madonna and child.JPG|Madonna & child
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 023.JPG|Baroque frescos on the vault
Image:Ochsenhausen klosterkirche 029 fresco veneration of monstrance.JPG|Fresco of the Veneration of the Monstrance
Category:Monasteries in Baden-Württemberg
Category:Benedictine monasteries in Germany
Category:Imperial abbeys
de:Reichsabtei Ochsenhausen
it:Abbazia di Ochsenhausen
nl:Abdij Ochsenhausen
th:สำนักสงฆ์อ็อคเซ็นเฮาเซ็น