Schöntal – Monastery Architecture in the Jagst Valley
Accommodation in Schöntal
Those looking for a hotel in Schöntal can tailor their stay to suit different interests: the monastery church and the New Abbey showcase Baroque architecture, Neusaß leads to the history of the monastery’s founding, and the Holy Sepulchre Chapel combines a distinctive architectural form with an uphill path. Schloss Aschhausen has its own visiting requirement: visits must be arranged by telephone.
File:Kloster Schöntal Schöntal 20190216 032.jpg
Photo: Tilman2007 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Schöntal Monastery and Baroque Architecture
Schöntal Monastery lies in the Jagst Valley in Hohenlohe. The Baroque monastery church has an impressive twin-tower façade and was built from 1708 to 1736 as a lofty, light-filled, cruciform hall. It was consecrated in 1736. The New Abbey was built from 1737 to 1749 and has a richly decorated staircase. The New Abbey is also the burial place of the knight Götz von Berlichingen. The two buildings represent closely successive phases of construction: the building of the New Abbey followed the construction and consecration of the church.
Neusaß and the Origins of the Monastery
Neusaß lies above Schöntal Monastery, among forests, meadows and fields. It is regarded as the original site of Schöntal Monastery. In 1157, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa confirmed the monastery’s founding in a letter of protection. The place name and the document offer different clues: Neusaß is regarded as the monastery’s original site, while the year 1157 establishes when Barbarossa confirmed its founding.
Holy Sepulchre Chapel: Octagon and Valley Views
The Holy Sepulchre Chapel, a slender octagon, stands on Kreuzberg. It was built from 1716 to 1720 to a design by Balthasar Neumann; Bernhard Schießer carried out the construction. In contrast to the cruciform monastery church, the octagon offers a different architectural accent. An uphill footpath of about 300 metres leads to the chapel, which offers views across the valley. Allow for a short uphill stretch and check the path conditions locally.
Schloss Aschhausen and Visiting Requirements
Schloss Aschhausen rises above the Erlenbach Valley, a side valley of the Jagst. It was built in the 17th or 18th century and is privately owned by the Zeppelin-Aschhausen family. Visits must be arranged by telephone on 07943 2358; confirm current availability before your visit. Visiting the castle and walking to the chapel require different preparations: for Aschhausen, you need to arrange your visit by telephone; for the chapel, you need to allow for the uphill footpath.
Gardens and Swimming on the Jagst
The newly redesigned convent garden invites visitors to relax, stroll and spend time there. The Kreuzgarten has a children’s playground. Garden layouts and playground facilities may change, so check the current situation if these details are important to your plans.
At the weir in Schöntal Monastery, there is an unsupervised swimming spot in the flowing Jagst. The water is not sampled or monitored. Check local conditions before swimming.
Discover more destinations: Ingelfingen, Niedernhall, Öhringen, Sindringen, Kupferzell, Krautheim, Mulfingen, Bretzfeld
For the regional travel overview: Hohenlohe.
