Franziskanerkloster Dettelbach

The origins of the pilgrimage to Dettelbach date back to 1504, when a miraculous healing was associated with a wayside shrine. However, the Reformation from 1517 onwards interrupted the upswing of the pilgrimage movement. Only Prince-Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn from Würzburg revitalized the pilgrimage by making Dettelbach a center of Catholic reform. This manifested itself in the construction of the large Renaissance-style pilgrimage church, completed by 1613. To provide pastoral care for the pilgrims, Franciscans of the Strasbourg Province Argentina were called to Dettelbach in 1616. They moved into the first monastery buildings in 1617, originally designed for 24 convent members, but expanded to accommodate 36 brothers under Echter's successor Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen. The monastery also became a training center for young order members and received support from neighboring monasteries. However, the Thirty Years' War brought great hardship to the monastery, which was repeatedly raided by passing troops. The Franciscans temporarily left the monastery, some were captured or killed. Theological studies were discontinued but resumed in 1634. After the war, the convent recovered, and in 1644, the Dettelbach Franciscans founded the Kreuzberg Monastery. In the 18th century, the pilgrimage experienced a new heyday, and in 1770, the fathers heard 80,000 confessions. During the Seven Years' War, the monastery was plundered in 1762. Later, expelled French Franciscans found refuge there. In the course of the Napoleonic Wars, the brothers cared for 250 wounded in 1796. Despite these burdens, the order's studies in Dettelbach were expanded, and from 1789, church history was also taught. From the late 17th century, the Franciscans took over parish pastoral care in many surrounding areas.

The former Franciscan monastery is situated in Dettelbach, a town in the Kitzingen district of Bavaria, Germany, at an elevation of approximately 211 m above sea level.

The former monastery is protected as a historical monument in Bavaria. The pilgrimage church, which dominates the site, still bears witness to the former significance of the place.

• Town fortifications Dettelbach (town fortifications, approx. 673 m away)
• Mainsondheim Castle (castle, approx. 1018 m away)
• Schwarzenau Castle (castle, approx. 3301 m away)
• Ebracher Hof Castle (castle, approx. 3407 m away)