Heilig Kreuz Abbey

The origins of the Heilig Kreuz Monastery can be traced back to around 1110, when it was founded as a Benedictine monastery. Originally established as a nunnery around 1040 by Mangold I von Werd, it was later converted into a monastery for men and relocated to the highest point within Donauwörth's city walls. After suffering damage during the Thirty Years' War, the west wing was rebuilt starting in 1680, followed by the south and east wings around 1700 under Valerian Brenner, incorporating the medieval cloister. Abbot Amandus Röls initiated a new church building after the War of the Spanish Succession. During the Rococo era (1770/1780), the monastery underwent further alterations and expansions. Joseph Schmuzer was the master builder of the monastery church, while Franz Schmuzer created the stucco work and the high altar. The monastery was dissolved in 1803 as part of the secularization. Movable and immovable assets were granted to the Prince of Oettingen-Wallerstein. The monastery church remained as a parish and pilgrimage church. Napoleon Bonaparte resided in the prelature of the dissolved monastery for several days in 1809.

The Heilig Kreuz Monastery is located in Donauwörth in the Donau-Ries district of Bavaria, Germany. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 432 meters above sea level.

Following its secularization and a period as a children's home from 1916 to 1977, Catholic monastic life has been present again in the Heilig Kreuz Monastery since 1935, through the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart from Salzburg. The former monastery church continues to serve as a parish and pilgrimage church. The crypt of the monastery church houses the resting place of Bavarian Duchess Maria of Brabant.

• Former Monastery School (Monastery, approx. 54 m away)
• Fuggerhaus Donauwörth (Castle, approx. 164 m away)
• Deutschordenskommende Donauwörth (Monastery, approx. 173 m away)
• Dominican Convent of St. Ursula (Monastery, approx. 358 m away)