Marchtal Abbey

Imperial Abbey of Marchtal
Reichsstift Marchtal
Imperial Abbey of the Holy Roman Empire
1500–1803
Coat of arms
Minster church, Marchtal Abbey
Capital		Marchtal Abbey
Government		Elective principality
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	Monastery founded     by Ahalolfinger	before 776
•	Dedicated by Herman II,     Duke of Swabia	993 1500
•	Refounded by Hugo II,     Count Palatine of Tübingen	1171
•	Rededicated by Henry I,     Bishop of Constance	2 May 1239
•	Raised to abbey	1440
•	Raised to Imperial abbey	1500
•	Secularised to Thurn und Taxis	1803
•	Mediatised to Württemberg	1806
Preceded by Succeeded by Duchy of Württemberg Thurn und Taxis
Today part of		Germany

Coat of arms

Marchtal Abbey (German: Kloster Marchtal or Reichsstift Marchtal) is a former Premonstratensian monastery in Obermarchtal in the Alb-Donau-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The minster church of Saints Peter and Paul, the former abbey church, located on a prominent elevation, still dominates the landscape for miles around.

In 776 the noble clan of the Ahalolfinger made a gift of the monastery founded by their ancestor Halaholf and his wife to St Gall's Abbey. By 993 the monastery had become a collegiate foundation of canons dedicated by Herman II, Duke of Swabia, and his wife Gerberga to the apostles Peter and Paul.

During the 12th century the monastery passed through the possession of a series of Swabian nobles, including the Staufen and particularly Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor. These constant changes of proprietor caused a severe decline in the monastery.

In 1171 the monastery was refounded by Pfalzgraf Hugo II of Tübingen as a Premonstratensian double abbey for men and women and given an adequate endowment. The canons were brought from Mönchsrot Abbey in Rot an der Rot. The existing premises were extensive and large-scale construction was not immediately necessary.