St. Stephan Abbey

The canonesses' convent of St. Stephan was founded in 969. A church dedicated to Saint Stephen already stood on this site, built on Roman foundations. The originally three-aisled pillar basilica underwent several reconstructions after fires. In the 12th century, St. Stephan established itself as an independent parish, which was incorporated into the convent of noblewomen in 1310. In 1459, a fire destroyed the church roof, after which the windows and vaults were renewed in Gothic style. In the 17th century, the church was adapted to the Renaissance style, and in the mid-18th century, an extensive Rococo renovation took place under Abbess Beata von Welden, led by Franz Xaver Kleinhans. In the course of secularization, the monastery was dissolved in 1803. The parish of St.