Münchsteinach Abbey

The Münchsteinach Monastery was founded shortly before 1133 by the Lords of Steinach. As a Benedictine abbey, it played an important role in the land-clearing culture of the region, leading to the establishment of several villages. Its main sources of income were agriculture, forestry, and fish farming in numerous ponds, extending the monastery's possessions across 22 localities. The Vogtship over the monastery passed to the Burgraves of Nuremberg by 1265 at the latest. Under Abbot Wilhelm von Abenberg, who served from 1457 to 1495, the monastery complex was fortified with strong walls, and the monastery church was expanded with two eastern towers.