Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. Second abbess of the monastery btw was Adalrich´s grand daughter Eugenia. Early nunneries often are family affairs, eg Freckenhorst and Gandersheim. The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the vandalized buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg. Only a few structures of the monastery, constructed within the 12th century after the older buildings burnt down, have survived the times. The church of the Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey, seen here, was constructed after 1687. It got as well severely vandalized during the French Revolution and rebuilt within the 19th century. The abbey has a nice website - in three languages: www.odilienberg.net/

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. Second abbess of the monastery btw was Adalrich´s grand daughter Eugenia. Early nunneries often are family affairs e.g. Freckenhorst, Gandersheim.. The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg. Only a few structures of the monastery, constructed within the 12th century after the older buildings burnt down, have survived the times. One that still exists after more than 800 years is the baptistry (aka "Holy Cross Chapel"). This room is dominated by this massive central pillar. This is the capital of this central pillar. The very geometric floral decorations and vines remind a bit on the tympanon in Murbach (60kms south), but the four heads on the corners seem kind of "rough". Left in a niche (barely to be seen on the photo) is the sarcophag of Adalrich and his wife Bereswinde.

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg. Only a few structures of the monastery, constructed within the 12th century after the older buildings burnt down, have survived the times. One that still exists after more than 800 years is the baptistry (aka "Holy Cross Chapel"). This room is dominated by this massive central pillar. Eight hands are necessary at the base to keep the pillar in a stable, upright positition.

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. Second abbess of the monastery btw was Adalrich´s grand daughter Eugenia. Early nunneries often are family affairs e.g. Freckenhorst, Gandersheim.. The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg. Only a few structures of the monastery, constructed within the 12th century after the older buildings burnt down, have survived the times. One that still exists after more than 800 years is the baptistry (aka "Holy Cross Chapel"). A door door on the north side of the baptistery leads to the sepulchral chapel. In this chapel is the tomb of St. Odile - and all pilgrims gather here. So I did not take any photo there. The lintel over the door is interesting. It depicts probably a tree of life. I have the impression, that this a carving may originate from an earlier structure. Robert Will (in "Alsace Romane", Edition Zodiaque) dates the two chapels back to the time of abess Relindis (+ 1167).

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. Second abbess of the monastery btw was Adalrich´s grand daughter Eugenia. Early nunneries often are family affairs e.g. Freckenhorst, Gandersheim.. The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg. Placed within the cloister (next to the entrance to the restaurant) is a part of a pillar, delicately carved on three sides. During a post-revolutionary raid it got vandalized in 1793, so all faces are missing. A romanesque madonna holding the child. Mother and child are well dressed. Mary is wearing her hair in long, delicate braids. While the Jesus´ right hand is blessing, his left hand holds a round object. If this object is a globus cruciger or part of a sceptre, then the missing part above his had could only have been a crown. Down below are two nuns, holding mother and child. Over the heads are their names: abbess Relindis (left) and abbess Herrad (right). Relindis (of Bergen) restored discipline here after a temporary decline around 1140. Her direct successor Herrad (of Landsberg) is the author if the illuminated "Hortus Deliciarum", the first known encyclopedia compiled by a woman (~1180). Sorry for the bad quality of the photo.

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. Second abbess of the monastery btw was Adalrich´s grand daughter Eugenia. Early nunneries often are family affairs e.g. Freckenhorst, Gandersheim.. The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg. Placed within the cloister (next to the entrance to the restaurant) is a remaining part of a pillar, delicately carved on three sides. During a post-revolutionary raid it got vandalized in 1793, so all faces are missing. Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, sitting on a throne, transfers the monastery / place of the monastery (symbolized by a book) to his daughter Odilie, the first abbess. So this is the visualisation of the founding myth. I could not make out, whether the hand to the left, belongs to father or daughter. One of them must have had a pretty long arm.

Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey (aka "Hohenburg Abbey") was founded by Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, around 690. First abbess of the nunnery was his daughter Sainte Odile (aka "Odile of Alsace"), who by now is the patron saint of the Alsace, making the abbey today to a place of pilgrimage in the area. Second abbess of the monastery btw was Adalrich´s grand daughter Eugenia. Early nunneries often are family affairs e.g. Freckenhorst, Gandersheim.. The monastery got damaged, destroyed and looted a couple of times. After the French Revolution it got sold - and finally in 1853 the catholics of the Alsace had collected enough money, to buy it back - and present the buildings to the Bishop of Strassburg. Placed within the cloister (next to the entrance to the restaurant) is a remaining part of a pillar, delicately carved on three sides. During a post-revolutionary raid it got vandalized in 1793, so all faces are missing. Saint Leodegar (see the inscription on top of the relief) is a very popular person (Guebwiller, Murbach) in the area. Legend tells, that Saint Leodegar, bishop of Autun, was the brother of Adalrich´s wife Bereswinde, Oldile´s mother. So this is Odile´s uncle. Odile was born blind (until she got baptised at the age of 12), Saint Leodegar´s eyes were gouged out by torture. So uncle and niece now are patron saints for any kind of eye problems.