St. Jakobus Church, Ensdorf Monastery

Ensdorf MonasteryThe Ensdorf Monastery was founded in 1121 by Count Friedrich von Burglengenfeld-Hopfenlohe-Pettendorf, his son-in-law Count Palatine Otto von Wittelsbach, his wife Heilika and Bishop Otto von Bamberg.
Monks from St. Blasien moved in to create an economic and religious-cultural center in the Vilstal. The first church dates from 1123.
Monastic life died out after it was placed under secular administration in 1554. When the Upper Palatinate monasteries were restored according to the will of the Elector in 1669, monastic life also returned to Ensdorf. After being administered by the Benedictines in testening, Ensdorf was made an abbey in 1695. Probably the most famous abbot, Anselm Desing, held a chair as prior at the University of Salzburg.
In 1802 the Benedictine monastery was forcibly dissolved in the course of secularization.
In 1920, the Salesians of Don Bosco moved into the abandoned convent building. Initially, the monastery included a farm and various craft businesses such as a bakery, butcher's shop, carpenter's shop, blacksmith's shop and printing shop. In addition, the training of novices took place there until 1967. From 1959 to 1996 there was a high school with a boarding school in the Ensdorf monastery.
Today, Ensdorf Monastery is a house for youth, creation and culture: In the educational center, children and young people gain valuable experiences for their lives during days, orientation or eco-experience days. Youth groups, choirs and orchestras have the opportunity to organize their own events there. The monastery itself also offers exhibitions, concerts, workshops and culinary highlights.
The Salesians of Don Bosco also take care of pastoral care in the parish of St. James. And many older confreres spend their twilight years in the Ensdorf monastery.Source: kloster-ensdorf.de

Monastery church of St. JamesUnder Abbot Bonaventura Oberhuber, a new baroque building was started in 1695 to replace the previous ruin. This undertaking was delayed due to the turmoil of the War of the Spanish Succession. The current church was consecrated on October 8, 1717.
The church tower is built in three floors. At the top there is a dome, which merges into a spire and a cross over the lantern. The entrance portal is decorated with the figure of St. James crowned in pilgrim garb, on the left and right are the statues of Bishop Otto of Bamberg and St. Benedict.
The nave is made up of three bays covered with vaults, and the chancel is east-facing. The ceiling paintings and the frescoes in the dome are attributed to Cosmas Damian Asam. The sacristy was built in 1743 and is considered an art historical treasure.
The high altarpiece with St. James and the Coronation of Mary in the altar excerpt comes from Gebhard von Scheckening
The church has eight side altars, each leaning against the side pillars. In the front right there is a Marian altar with the Immaculata, in the extract there is a picture with St. Benedict. On the left front is the cross altar, depicting the moment in which a soldier prepares to stab Christ's side with a lance. In the excerpt, God the Father is shown with the globe. The next altar is St. Apolonia is consecrated, her martyrdom is shown in the middle picture, in the excerpt are Mother Anna with Mary, flanked by the martyrs of St. Barbara and St. Catherine. The altar on the left unites the saints in the altarpiece. Trinity and the Holy Family. In the excerpt, Mary's father, Joachim, is shown flanked by St. Leonhard and St. Ägidius. One of the rear altars is the so-called Ottoaltar, which shows Bishop Otto of Bamberg as a blessed of heaven; in the excerpt, Emperor Heinrich II, the founder of the diocese of Bamberg, is glorified. The altar opposite is the Benedictus altar, he is shown in his glory, his two disciples Plazidus and Maurus are at his side. In the excerpt, St. Scholastica depicted. The last altar on the right shows St. Sebastian, at his side are St. Francis Xavier and St. Roch, in the excerpt St. Florian shown. The altar opposite is dedicated to Anthony of Padua, he is depicted together with John of Capistran and Francis of Assisi. In the excerpt is St. Seeing Klara with a monstrance.Source Wikipedia.de

We are here above Ensdorf on a path that leads to the former Salesian sports field. At this point, above the Salesian cemetery, we have a beautiful view of Ensdorf