Mädchenrealschule der Dillinger Franziskanerinnen

The founding of St. Maria Monastery in 1856 is closely linked to the desire for improved education for girls in rural areas. Unlike many other foundations, which were often initiated by parish offices, a testamentary endowment was the catalyst in Volkach. Anna Justina Meisner bequeathed 1000 guilders to secure the remuneration of teaching sisters. Thus, in October 1856, three Franciscans from Dillingen and Mödingen arrived in the town and began their teaching activities at the municipal school. Two years later, in November 1858, the sisters acquired the former Royal Bavarian Forestry Office next to the parish church, which became the nucleus of the monastery. From 1860, they also taught in these premises. Due to great demand, the monastery grounds were gradually expanded over the following decades through further land purchases. Initial efforts to achieve greater autonomy from the mother monastery in Dillingen were ended in 1874 by an ordinariate decree that prohibited further investitures in Volkach. Today, the monastery is a branch of the Dillingen Franciscans within the Bamberg province.

St. Maria Monastery is located in the town of Volkach, which belongs to the Lower Franconian district of Kitzingen in Bavaria, Germany. It is centrally situated in the medieval town center.

The premises of the monastery are currently used by the State-recognized Girls' Realschule of the Foundation of the Dillingen Franciscan Sisters St. Maria Volkach. In addition, since 1987, the sisters have operated an after-school care center on the grounds, offering afternoon and holiday care. A house chapel, consecrated in 1962, serves as a place of worship and houses a folk altar made of shell limestone with an Agnus Dei relief and an altarpiece depicting Mary as Queen of the Universe.

• Town fortifications Volkach (Town fortifications, approx. 78 m away)
• Town fortifications Volkach-Oberes Tor (Town fortifications, approx. 91 m away)
• Town fortifications Volkach-Unteres Tor (Town fortifications, approx. 272 m away)
• Pons Mariae Monastery (Sacred building, approx. 687 m away)