Gotteszell Abbey

The foundation of Gotteszell Monastery is dated to 1240, with a documentary record from 1246 already confirming an established monastic community. The monastery church was first mentioned in 1259, and its stonemason marks in the choir date back to the mid-13th century. Initially, the monastery was under the authority of the Dominicans in Esslingen, before the newly founded Dominican monastery in Schwäbisch Gmünd took over spiritual supervision in 1289. Gotteszell served particularly to provide for unmarried women from the city's patriciate and the surrounding nobility, with monastic life said to have corresponded to the aristocratic style. The Imperial City of Schwäbisch Gmünd exercised patronage, although the monastery was already exempted from taxes by King Henry VII in 1309. Throughout its history, the monastery suffered damage multiple times: in 1449 during the War of the Cities, in 1525 by peasants, and in 1546 by Hessian soldiers, leading to extensive repairs and new constructions. Another fire occurred in 1609. In the 18th century, the monastery was expanded with a castle-like wing. As part of the secularization, the monastery was dissolved in 1802/03. The church treasury was moved to Ludwigsburg, and the altars were sold. The nuns were allowed to remain in the cloister buildings until 1808.

Gotteszell Monastery is situated outside the former city walls of Schwäbisch Gmünd in the Ostalb region of Baden-Württemberg. It is located at an altitude of approximately 337 meters above sea level.

The former monastery buildings are now used as the Schwäbisch Gmünd Correctional Facility, a women's prison. The Gothic, later Baroque, monastery church of the Annunciation continues to serve as the church for the correctional facility.

• Franciscan Monastery (approx. 986 m away)
• Fulradszelle (?) Schwäbisch Gmünd (Monastery, approx. 1065 m away)
• Dominican Monastery Schwäbisch Gmünd (approx. 1219 m away)
• Prediger Monastery (approx. 1239 m away)