Herrenalb Abbey

Herrenalb Monastery was founded in 1148 by Count Berthold von Eberstein. Cistercian monks from Neubourg Monastery in Alsace formed the first convent. From 1289, the Margraves of Baden assumed patronage, followed by the Counts of Württemberg from 1338. During the Peasants' War in 1525, the complex suffered damage. With the introduction of the Reformation in Württemberg by Duke Ulrich in 1534, the monks had to leave the monastery in 1536. Duke Christoph of Württemberg established an evangelical monastery school in 1556, which was dissolved again in 1595. The monastery was a landowner with properties in the Albtal valley and in places such as Ottersweier, Malsch, Bruchsal, Oberderdingen, Vaihingen an der Enz, and Merklingen.