Choir of the church, cemetery
MonasteryNeustadt an der Aisch
Kloster Neustadt a.d. Aisch
The former Franciscan monastery in Neustadt an der Aisch, also known as Riedfeld Monastery or St. Wolfgang, was a significant religious institution in Bavaria. Situated at an elevation of approximately 295 meters above sea level, it played an important role in regional history and culture.
History+
The monastery was founded in 1458 by Margraves Johann and Albrecht with the aim of counteracting the influence of Hussite preachers in the region. The chosen site was an area around a former chapel dedicated to Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg, located in the Riedfeld district. Following initial discussions with the vicar of the Strasbourg Franciscan province in 1456, construction began in 1459 but was delayed by wartime conflicts and limited funds. A donation of 600 guilders by the Nuremberg widow Usmer enabled the completion of the convent building. In 1462, the first Franciscan friars from Nuremberg moved in. The monastery quickly developed, hosting the novitiate of the province from 1483 onwards. Prominent figures like Sebald Schreyer donated artworks and manuscripts to the monastery. The Franciscans operated a small school and served as pastoral caregivers. In 1484, the monastery church of St. Wolfgang was consecrated with five altars. During the Peasants' War in May 1525, the monastery was plundered and burned down by rebels, largely destroying the convent building, though the church remained intact. The friars fled with valuable assets, including parts of the monastery library. In 1528, the order abandoned the monastery, and it was secularized in 1529. As a result of the Reformation, a new church order was introduced in 1533, and the monastery's no longer needed books later formed the foundation of the Neustadt church library.
Location+
The former monastery is located in Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany. It stands at an elevation of approximately 295 meters above sea level.
On site+
Today, only the choir of the church remains from the original monastery buildings. The destroyed parts were not rebuilt. A Lutheran cemetery was established on the former church square in 1584.
Nearby+
- Seckendorff-Schlößchen (castle, approx. 341 m away)
- Altes Schloß Neustadt (castle, approx. 498 m away)
- Neues Schloß Neustadt (castle, approx. 526 m away)
- Alte Veste Neustadt (castle, approx. 645 m away)
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Location: 49.5811, 10.6015