Verchen Church

The Verchen convent, dedicated to Saint Mary, was founded between 1191 and 1194. Originally, the complex was located elsewhere before being relocated several times during the 13th century. The final settlement in Verchen occurred around 1269. The convent developed into an important landowner in the region, with its lands covering up to 7000 hectares and including numerous church patronages. The nuns, primarily from noble families, shaped monastic life. Despite a resolution to preserve it in 1534, the convent was secularized by 1535 at the latest. Most of the convent buildings were destroyed in a major fire between 1560 and 1575.