Bebenhausen Monastery

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The small village of Bebenhausen is located just a couple of miles north of Tuebingen city and about 45 kilometers south of Stuttgart.

Here you can find one of the most important and most beautiful Cistercian monasteries in southwest Germany, second only to Maulbronn (if at all). It was built in 1187 AD and was sponsored by Count 'Rudolf von Tubingen' (I didn't know him either...).

It was common for Cistercian monasteries to strive for economic independence. The Cistercians of Bebenhausen for example were trading with wine. Cheers!

In 1807 the monastery became a hunting lodge and after WW II it was for a short time the venue of the parliament of Wuerttemberg-Hohenzollern before it was merged with Baden to create the State of 'Baden-Wuerrtemberg'.

The rather unconspicious but indoors very nice St. Mary's church can only be visited if you decide to visit the whole monastery, which will cost you only three Euros in admission fees.

Especially well-crafted is the Late Gothic cloister!

Bebenhausen is a few miles north of Tuebingen city. From downtown Tuebingen go to Federal Highway 'B28' - direction: Reutlingen - and just before the end of Tubingen city you'll see the first signs for Bebenhausen. There are also signs on Hwy B27.

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Photos

Bebenhausen Monastery
Bebenhausen Monastery seen from the cloister

Bebenhausen Monastery
Bebenhausen Monastery seen from the cloister

Bebenhausen Monastery
Bebenhausen Monastery cloister