Monastic Island of Reichenau
Reichenau, Germany
07.04.2017
The Monastic Island of Reichenau – A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany
The Monastic Island of Reichenau is a small island located in Lake Constance, Germany. It is a unique cultural landscape that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The island is home to three well-preserved medieval churches, including the famous St. George's Church, which dates back to the 9th century.
The history of Reichenau dates back to the 8th century when St. Pirmin, a missionary from Ireland, founded a Benedictine monastery on the island. The monastery became a center of art, culture, and learning, and played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in Europe.
One of the most remarkable features of Reichenau is its well-preserved medieval gardens, which are a rare example of monastic garden design. These gardens were not only used for cultivating medicinal herbs, but also for contemplation and prayer. The gardens are divided into three parts, representing the three stages of life – the Garden of Paradise, the Garden of the Mind, and the Garden of the Soul.
The island also has several notable buildings, including the Imperial Abbey, the former residence of the abbots, and the Romanesque Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul. The latter is known for its impressive frescoes and sculptures that depict biblical scenes and saints.
Today, Reichenau is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world who come to admire its rich history and cultural significance. The island also hosts an annual music festival, the Reichenau Music Festival, which takes place in the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul.
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The island of Reichenau on Lake Constance preserves the traces of the Benedictine monastery, founded in 724, which exercised remarkable spiritual, intellectual and artistic influence. The churches of St Mary and Marcus, St Peter and St Paul, and St George, mainly built between the 9th and 11th centuries, provide a panorama of early medieval monastic architecture in central Europe. Their wall paintings bear witness to impressive artistic activity.
Reichenau Abbey was a Benedictine monastery on Reichenau Island (known in Latin as Augia Dives). It was founded in 724 by the itinerant Saint Pirmin, who is said to have fled Visigothic Spain ahead of the Moorish invaders, with patronage that included Charles Martel, and, more locally, Count Berthold of the Ahalolfinger and the Alemannian Duke Santfrid I (Nebi). Pirmin's conflict with Santfrid resulted in his leaving Reichenau in 727.
