Soflingen monastery (Kloster Soeflingen) description and photos - Germany: Ulm (Topic)

Soflingen monastery (Kloster Soeflingen) description and photos - Germany: Ulm. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Kloster Soeflingen.

Photo and description

Three kilometers west of the center of Ulm, in 1258, Count Dillingen founded the nunnery of the same name in the former suburban village of Soflinger. Since its inception, Soflingen has been the largest and most influential abbey of the Clarissa order. This women's monastic order, founded by Saint Clara of Assisi, was under the special patronage of the popes and received significant privileges, such as tax exemptions. The charter of the order was quite strict: prayer, poverty and seclusion. The buildings of the Soflingen monastery at that time fully corresponded to these principles: strict lines, no frills and decorations.

The history of the order of the Clarissas has seen ups and downs, persecution and patronage, schisms and reformation. All this was reflected in the situation of the Ulm monastery. It suffered especially as a result of the Thirty Years' War: Soflingen was almost completely destroyed, and the nuns took refuge behind the fortress walls of Ulm. After the end of the war in 1648, large-scale construction began in the monastery. At the same time, the only building that has survived to this day was erected - the monastery church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The appearance of the early Baroque church remained unchanged, and the interior, with the exception of the main altar, was changed in 1821.

In 1803 Soflingen monastery was dissolved, and a field hospital was organized on its territory ... And by 1818 all the monastery buildings except for the church were demolished.

We also recommend reading Chimborazo volcano description and photos - Ecuador

Topic: Soflingen monastery (Kloster Soeflingen) description and photos - Germany: Ulm.