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| Benedictine monastery Banz | ||
| federal state | Bavaria | |
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| Residents | unknown | |
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| height | unknown | |
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| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
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Banz Monastery, a former Benedictine monastery above the Upper Main Valley Bad Staffelstein, is a figurehead of the South German-Bohemian Baroque and a cultural monument of European standing.
background
The first buildings in place of today's monastery were a ring wall system from the 9th century and subsequently, probably from 930 onwards, the Banzburg in the strategically favorable location above the Main valley.
Around the year 1070 the castle was converted into a Benedictine abbey by the rulers of that time in the East Franconian "Banzgowe" (the Banzgau), Countess Alberada von Schweinfurt and her husband, Count Hermann von Habsberg-Kastl. After some initial difficulties, the monastery developed under Bishop Otto von Bamberg, who brought new monks from the Bamberg monasteryChecking near Regensburg to Banz, renovated the monastery buildings and was able to inaugurate the monastery church on September 21, 1114.
During the Peasants' War the monastery was ravaged by arson in 1525, but was rebuilt by Abbot Alexander von Rotenhan (1529-1554). In the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) the whole area became neglected and the monastery was plundered. Under the new Abbot Michael Stürzel (1648–1664) the monastery community was able to be enlarged again, the damage to the buildings and in the church was repaired.
Under Abbot Otto de la Bourde (1665-1677) the monastery flourished economically and spiritually. The sum of over 40,000 guilders earned in the abbot's estate formed the basis for the renovation and expansion of the monastery complex in the Baroque architecture that can be seen today, which was carried out under Abbot Eucharius Weinert (term of office 1677-1701) and his successors.
The monastery church was built according to designs by the Bamberg master builder Leonhard Dientzenhofer and his brother Johann Dientzenhofer, and was inaugurated on October 5th, 1719. The Baroque expansion of the monastery complex was carried out by the Staffelstein builders Sebastian Weber and Johann Thomas Nißler (who also carried out Vierzehnheiligen), Balthasar Neumann provided the situation plan for the forecourt.
During the secularization, the monastery was dissolved in 1803 and the monastery property (library and land) was distributed. In 1813, Duke Wilhelm of Bavaria acquired the complex and gave it the name it is known today as "Banz Monastery".
Banz Monastery has been owned by the CSU-affiliated Hanns Seidel Foundation since 1978, which uses the facility as an educational facility.
getting there
The monastery complex is located about 30 km north of Bamberg on a ridge north of the Main.
By plane
The nearest international airports are the Nuremberg Airport
(IATA: NUE) and the airport Frankfurt(IATA: FRA).
In the street
Access on the highway 
, Exit Lichtenfels-Nord, only a few kilometers to the parking lot directly at the monastery.
By train
The next 1 Train station is in Bad Staffelstein.
Local public transport in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region is operated by the Greater Nuremberg Transport Association VGN operated. It is possible to use different means of transport with one ticket, such as bus, train, S-Bahn or U-Bahn. The tickets can be purchased online or via an app.
mobility
The facility is manageable, the best overall view is from the monk's playground west of the parking lot.
Tourist Attractions
Monastery church
The church officially bears the name "St. Dionysius and St. Peter and Paul". While the exterior of the church is designed with a comparatively simple rectangular floor plan, the interior of the church longhouse shows a complicated vault formation from the central dome and overlapping, different ellipses with a swaying spatial effect, complemented in its liveliness by the baroque furnishings.
Tourist Attractions inside the church are:
- The High altar at the choir entrance, designed with a transparent view (without altar leaf) on the Choir altar 12 m away at the end of the choir, based on a design by Johann Dientzenhofer.
- The Ceiling frescoes in the choir of J.J. Gebhard.
- The Side altars from the beginning of the 18th century.
- The Piece of the Bambergers J.J. Bird.
- The Choir stalls with rich inlaid fields, created by the Schönborn court carpenter and cabinet maker Johann Georg Neßtfell.
- The historical Grafschafter Seuffert organ of the 18th century was established by Gerald Woehl.
- In 1997, Thomas Eichfelder from Bamberg built the beautiful, small organ on the north wall above the monks' choir, which is used for cryptic services in winter.
opening hours Church: Nov-April: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.;
Photography in the monastery church is not allowed.
Monastery building
- The Open staircase and the Driveway of the monastery courtyard, completed in 1780.
- The gate construction from 1772;
- The magnificently decorated one Imperial Hall with stucco by J.J. Vogel and paintings by S.Reinhard.
Petrefact collection
The collection shows evidence of earlier life, such as petrified fossils, but also Egyptian mummies and the largest ichthyosaur skull in Europe (length 2.10 m)
- Opening times: March-October: Tue-Sun 10 am-5.30pm; Nov .: Sat, Sun, public holidays 10 am-5.30pm;
- Banz Monastery, 96231 Bad Staffelstein; Tel .: 49 (0) 9573/33744.
activities
- Songs on a summer evening is a concert series on the Klosterwiese with national and international stars such as: Reinhard Mey, Heinz Rudolf Kunze, or the Austrian dialect rock band See, which is recorded once a year by Bayerischer Rundfunk and then broadcast in various third programs on ARD. info.
- Chamber concerts at Banz Monastery, a concert series with ensembles of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and friends, organized by the Bad Staffelstein spa administration; info.
- Banz organ concerts in the monastery church, sacred organ matinees in June and July, Sun. 11.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
- 1 Forest climbing garden, Forsthaus Banz, 96231 Bad Staffelstein. Tel.: 49 9573 222570. Near the monastery car park, on an area of 14,000 m² with five different courses.Open: June to August from Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. September to October from Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am to 7pm; during the summer holidays in Bavaria: daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to May: 10.30am-6pm; from November 12th to March 29th there is a winter break.
- On the slope in front of the parking lot there is a starting point for Paraglider;
kitchen
- 1 Banz monastery parlors, Kloster Banz 18, 96231 Bad Staffelstein. Tel.: 49(0)9573 3315191, Fax: 49(0)9573 3315192. Restaurant with beer garden.Open: Apr to Oct daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov to Mar: closed on Mondays, Tuesdays - Saturdays 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
trips
- To the rococo church Fourteen saints directly opposite on the other bank of the Main.
- The next bigger cities are Bamberg, Coburg, court, Bayreuth and, a little further, gain, Nuremberg or Wurzburg.
literature
- A small church guide can be purchased from the church.
Web links
- http://www.klosterbanz.de/ - Official website of Benedictine monastery Banz
- The Hanns Seidel Foundation on Banz Monastery.
- House of Bavarian History (www.hdbg.de): Monasteries in Bavaria
