On the northern banks of the river Neckar, on the southern slope of the mountain “Koepfel” between the Heidelberg communities Neuenheim and Ziegelhausen, the picturesque monastery Neuburg is situated, viewing the river Neckar. On the meadows in front is the grazing area of the own cattle breeding.

In 1130 “niewenburg” was founded as branch of the Lorch monastery as men`s monastery of the Benediktin order. On the demand of the first count palatinate, Konrad of Staufen, the Lorch abbot Sieghard of Schauenburg, changed it into an independent nun monastery in 1195 which lasted til 1562.

In 1232 the mother monastery Lorch was dissolved. Its rights were given to the bishop of Mainz and later to the monastery of Worms to which Neuburg belonged till 1806. Documentarily verified is the change to a Zisterzienser nun monastery with support of the Schoenau monastery in 1303.

Under prince elector Frederic I, “the Victorious”, the monastery found back to the Benedictines in 1460. At the time of the reformation, Brigitta, cousin of prince elector Ottheinrich, was abbess of the monastery. The nuns joint the reformation and left the monastery. This led to the dissolution of the monastery and change into an aristocratic women home.

Prince elector John William transferred the monastery to the Jesuits in 1706. They kept it until the prohibition of the order by the Pope Clemens XIV in 1773. In 1804 it went into private possession and often changed its owner.

In 1926 Alexander of Bernus again sold the property to the Benektin Monastery Beuron, who again used it as monastery. Nowadays 15 monks live in the Neuburg monastery which is run since 1988 by Abbot Franyiskus Heeremann. Beside the liturgical and spiritual advisor tasks they work in the undertakings of the monastery. Besides fish and cattle breeding the monks work successfully in horticulture. Ivy cultivation growing made the monastery world famous. A visit pays! Not only because of the interesting cosy monastery church with its picturesque glass windows, but as well because of the own bio shop, in which own bio products are offered for sale. Own slaughtering!

And the last news: Neuburg Monastery now has its own brewery. Cheers!

More: www.stift-neuburg.de