Cistercian Abbey Church Otterberg

This church is the second largest religious building in the Palatinate. Pretty impressive!

The Otterberg Abbey Church is the largest church in Rhineland-Palatinate after Speyer Cathedral.
The former Cistercian abbey church is one of the best-preserved sacred buildings from the heyday of the Cistercian order.
In 1168 the construction of the Oterberg abbey church began. After almost 90 years of construction, the abbey church was reopened in 1254
be initiated. With its clear objectivity and ornamental rigor, it is a prime example of the rules of the order of the white monks.
With a total length of almost 80 meters, it is an imposing building, even without towers.
The late Romanesque and early Gothic church is completely original and gives the interested viewer a Burgundian impression.
At first glance, there are hardly any remains of the medieval monastery buildings, but with a trained eye
or with an expert guide there are even more relics to be discovered.
For example the chapter house, a Romanesque hall from 1185 with 3 high Gothic windows, which served as a meeting room for the monks.
There are still gables, bay windows and windows from the 14th century abbot's house.
Secondary used stones can be found in almost the entire old town area. Parts of the medieval enclosing wall complete the picture.
The church is used as a simultaneous church by Protestant and Catholic Christians.

This abbey church is considered to be the best-preserved monastery church in the Palatinate. With an interior length of 74 m and a height of 26 m, it was built by the Cistercians (1168 to 1254) and is open all year round. In the Palatinate, only the cathedral in Speyer is larger.

300 stonemasons did their work here, and in order to get their fair wages, each stone was given a special, unique mark. One of them looks like a violin.

6 springs are located under the church, so wanted by the Cistercians. You can still see water stains at the top of the church today, but the problem should now be resolved.