Legend
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Her biography is mainly based on a 10th-century legend. According to this story, Odilia was born on the Hohenburg (municipality of Obernai; Oberehnheim in German). She was the daughter of Duke Eticho (also called Athich, Attich, Adalrich or Adalricus) and his wife Bersinda (also called Bethsvinda or Bereswinde) and was born blind. Because of this, her father wanted her killed; the mother saved her by giving the child to a convent. It is probably the monastery of Baume-les-Dames east of Besançon. When she was baptized by Erhard von Regensburg at the age of twelve, she gained sight. She returned to her parents, but again had to flee from her father and hide in a cave. Depending on the source, this cave is either in Arlesheim (south of Basel) or in the Musbachtal near Freiburg im Breisgau. Worship at both places dates back at least to the 15th century. Later she was reconciled with her father, who gave her a property on the Hohenburg in Alsace - later Mont Sainte-Odile (French: Mont Sainte-Odile) - where she founded a monastery in 690. She died around 720 in the Niedermünster monastery, which she also founded at the foot of the Odilienberg. Her grave is on the Odilienberg. Mount Sainte-Odile is the most important place of pilgrimage in Alsace; the source there is considered helpful for eye diseases.