Museum "Vom Kloster zum Dorf"

About the museum

The museum was created in connection with the renovation of the former monastery church from 1982 to 1985, when the parish, the monument preservation office, the state, the town of Creglingen and the district together rescued the dilapidated upper church. The state subsidies were tied to the condition that parts of the rooms be made publicly accessible. The concept for a cultural-historical permanent exhibition came from Kurt Meider, founder of the Verein Tauberfränkische Volkskultur (Tauber Franconian folk culture association). On May 10, 1990, the museum "Vom Kloster zum Dorf" opened on the former nuns' gallery.

Until the end of 2015 the Verein Tauberfränkische Volkskultur ran the museum; since January 2016 it has been operated by the newly founded Museumsverein Kloster Frauental, jointly with the Protestant parish. In 2016 the house was admitted to the European Charter of Cistercian Abbeys and Sites.

The exhibition follows the history of the women's monastery founded in 1232 in chronological order: the founding and daily routine of the nuns, supply facilities such as the mill, smithy, sheep farm and fish ponds, the break caused by the Peasants' War and the Reformation, the period as a margravial estate, and finally the development into a farming village with church, school and agriculture. Models and maps show the transformation of the cultural landscape; a small archaeological section documents early settlement, and since 2022 part of the museum has been devoted to Protestant religious refugees from Upper Austria. Short videos also present people from different eras.

Highlights

• Walk through eight centuries of monastery and village history
• Late Gothic communion chalice, pyx and host iron from the monastery era
• Models and maps of the changing cultural landscape
• Short videos on historical figures such as the choir sister Klara
• Section on Protestant refugees (Exulanten)
• Museum on the former nuns' gallery of the upper church

Permanent exhibition

• Vom Kloster zum Dorf – Chronological walk through roughly eight centuries, from the founding of the Cistercian convent to the agriculturally shaped village, supplemented by videos, models and an archaeological section.

Founded

1990

Operated by

Museumsverein Kloster Frauental e.V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is located on the former nuns' gallery of the upper church; access is via a staircase.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the former monastery church in Frauental, a district of Creglingen.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit