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The
Cistercians at Eberbach Monastery |
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In 1136, a group of 13 monks
under the leadership of Abbot Ruthard moved
into the new location of the Cistercian Order in the
Rheingau.
The Cistercian monks, who came from Clairvaux in Burgundy
to the Rheingau, arrived at a settlement which had
existed for about 20 years. Initially, Augustinian
canons had settled here, and starting in 1131, Benedictine
monks had lived there.
At the request of Adalbert, the Archbishop of Mainz,
Bernhard, the Abbott of the Cistercian Order
in Clairvaux and the leading protagonist of the Order,
was convinced to establish a "daughter house"
of his monastery in the Archdiocese of Mainz. |
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| That was the beginning of the almost
700 year epoch of the Cistercian "Eberbach" Abbey,
as the new monastery was called using an older traditional
name. |
The Cistercian monks of that pioneer
period strictly followed the Rule of the Order
of St. Benedict of Nursia and led a life full
of deprivation dictated by asceticism complying with
the rule: Ora et labora - Pray and Work!
Bans on speaking, denial of sleep, the most paltry
of foods, and the life in unheated, often damp rooms
determined their daily routine, which additionally
was subjected to a fixed rhythm of choir duty and
hard work.
In spite of these superhuman demands as seen from
today's perspective, during the 12th century, the
Cistercian Order was considered to be very attractive,
especially for members of the higher social classes
and for members of the nobility in particular. |
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The early economic prosperity of the Abbey
manifested itself in large-scale building projects
and frequent remodeling and add-on construction
work. It is a unique stroke of good fortune, that
the Monastery building complex has survived the
course of time almost without damage, in spite of
its location in the Rhine River area, which has
been the site of many wars over the years.
Thanks to this, one can still admire the wonderful
works of the Cistercian architectural culture here
in Eberbach today. As if in an archive, historical
traces and signs of the various trends of thought
are preserved together in the architecture of Eberbach.
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You will have a good opportunity to better
understand the life and achievements of the Cistercians
during your walks around and tours of the Eberbach Monastery.
You will be able to visit the Cloister buildings, which,
in former times, could only be used by the monks, to explore
the Monastery Gardens, or to take part in one of our numerous
tours. |
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