Fahr Abbey

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Kloster Fahr
250px
Fahr Abbey as seen from the west, Unterengstringen in the background
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Monastery information
Other names Fahr Abbey; Fahr Nunnery
Order Order of Saint Benedict
Established 22 January 1130
Mother house Kloster Einsiedeln
Dedicated to Our Lady
Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel
Controlled churches 3
People
Founder(s) Judenta and Luitold von Regensberg
Abbot Urban Federer OSB, Kloster Einsiedeln
Prior Irene Gassmann OSB (since 2003)
Site
Location Würenlos, Canton of Aargau, being an enclave within Unterengstringen, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland
Public access allowed
Other information extensive agriculture by the nunnery, monastery shop and restaurant

Fahr Abbey, (Swiss German: Kloster Fahr) is a Benedictine monastery of nuns located in the Swiss municipality of Würenlos in the Canton of Aargau. Located in different cantons, Einsiedeln Abbey and Fahr Abbey form a double monastery, ruled by the Abbot of Einsiedeln. Fahr and Einsiedeln are perhaps the only such community still to exist.[1]

File:Kloster Fahr IMG 5908 ShiftN.jpg
The outside frescos of the abbey's church
File:Kloster Fahr IMG 5884 ShiftN.jpg
Refectory that was also used for the students
File:Kloster Fahr IMG 5886 ShiftN.jpg
the former chaplain's house built in 1703
File:Kloster Fahr IMG 5893 ShiftN.jpg
St. Anna chapel
File:Kloster Fahr IMG 5988 ShiftN.jpg
View of the abbey from towards the Limmat

Geographical and administratively special situation

The monastery historically was located in an exclave of the canton of Aargau within the municipality of Unterengstringen in the canton of Zürich in the Limmat Valley. The nuns' abbey had not been part of a political municipality, although some administrative tasks have been carried out by the Würenlos authorities since the 19th century and the nuns were always allowed to fulfill their political rights (voting, etc.) in Würenlos. Since 1 January 2008 Fahr Abbey has been a part of Würenlos. The nunnery has its own postal code, 8109 Kloster Fahr.

History

The abbey is first mentioned in AD 1130 as Vare (an old term used for "ferry"). The lands were donated by the House of Regensberg. On 22 January 1130 Lütold II and his son Lütold III and his wife Judenta[2] handed over lands and estates on the shore of the Limmat around Weiningen and Unterengstringen-Oberengstringen to the Einsiedeln Abbey to establish a Benedictine monastery for nuns. The Chapel of St. Nicholas already stood on the land. This may have been connected with the death of Lütold I in 1088 while engaged in battle against the forces of the Abbey of Einsiedeln. The monastery was dedicated to Our Lady. In addition to the medieval St. Nikolaus-Kapelle (Saint Nicholas chapel), built around 10th century AD and now called St. Anna-Kapelle, and the late medieval church of the monastery, the parish church of Weiningen were subordinated to the monastery.

From the very beginning, the abbey has been ruled by the Abbot of Einsiedeln; the nuns are governed in their daily life by a prioress appointed by the abbot. The bailiwick rights were first hold by the Regensberg family, after 1306 by the citizens of the municipality of Zürich, and from 1434 to 1798 by the Meyer von Knonau family.

Around 1530 the monastery was suppressed during the Reformation in Zürich, but it was reopened in 1576. An era of prosperity during the 17th century led to a brisk program of construction: In 1678 the tavern Zu den zwei Raben ("Two Ravens", the emblem of Einsiedeln Abbey) was built; from 1685 to 1696 the cloister and church tower were renovated; in 1703/04 a new refectory was designed by Johann Moosbrugger; and a house for the chaplain was erected in 1730/34. From 1743 to 1746 the monastery's church was decorated with frescoes by the Torricelli brothers.

In dissolving the old County (Grafschaft) of Baden in 1803, the cantons of Zurich and Aargau established an exclave of Aargau within the canton of Zürich, for the former lands of the abbey. Formerly part of the Bishopric of Constance, the abbey has been part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel since 1828. The canton of Aargau chose in 1841 to close all monasteries within its territory, but this was reversed in 1843 for women's monasteries. The negotiations between Einsiedeln Abbey and the cantonal authorities regarding assets and authority were completed nearly 90 years later, in 1932. At that point Aargau granted full autonomy to the monastic community.

During World War II, from November 1943 to February 1944, 11 female Jewish refugees lived secretly in the cloister; unfortunately they had to leave for an unknown destination when the school was opened.[3] On 1 February 1944, the abbey established a Bäuerinnenschule, i.e. an agricultural school for women.

On 1 January 2008 the monastery was incorporated into the municipality of Würenlos, happening over a century after the municipality's initial attempts to absorb the 1.48-hectare area of the monastery.[4]

On 22 January 2009 the former Abbot of Einsiedeln, Dom Martin Werlen, O.S.B., presented the nuns a new community seal, thereby indicating that the nuns were in full control of the business affairs of their monastery.[5]

End of 2014 the women's agricultural school (Bäuerinnenschule) had to close for financial reason.[6] At the same time the overall renovation of the monastery's buildings that were built between 1689 to 1746 started. The interior decoration, the windows and electric cables will be renewed to 2016, as well as the living cells of the sisters will be equipped with hot water. As the residential wing was the focus of the renovation, the sisters lived in the former peasant school. Primarily, the estimated total cost of CHF 21 million will ensure fire prevention and include energetically improvements to meet statutory requirements.[7]

Convent, activities and points of interest

As of April 2010, there were 26 nuns (7 in 1873, 33 in 2000) living at the abbey. Silja Walter (Sister Maria Hedwig, O.S.B.) (1919–2011), a renowned novelist, was the most prominent member of the community.[8]

The abbey was renowned for its agricultural school for women (Bäuerinnenschule) that was established in 1944, but had to be closed in January 2013 for economical reasons and because the few nuns were no longer able to insure the high quality of the 20 weeks courses for young women.[6]

Viticulture played, for centuries, an important role in the monastic culture. Even in the deed of donation of 22 January 1130, a vineyard was mentioned. In the Middle Ages the cultivation and trade in wine was significant and frequently documented. Cultivation and wine pressing are part of the historic tradition, and the present vineyards comprise 4.2 hectares on the "Wingert" hill just above the monastery in the municipality of Unterengstringen and on monastic property in Weiningen where selected grape varieties are grown: Riesling-Sylvaner, Pinor Noir, Pinot Gris, Regent and Dornfelder. With the young vines Zweigelt, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, the historic wine selection was expanded.[9] The well-known wine estate is managed by the nuns and around 30 external employees.

Agricultural products made by the nunnery also include liquors and honey, and a variety of other products among them fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. The monastic community sells its products in a shop (from Monday to Saturday) situated in the abbey and provides a restaurant (from Wednesday to Sunday) in the former pilgrim's hostel, built in 1678 AD. The Chapel of St. Anna is a popular site for weddings.

For tourists, Fahr Abbey is a highlight in the Limmat Valley and a popular stop for hikers and bikers along the Limmat.[10]

Cultural Heritage

Kloster Fahr is listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance as a Class A object of national importance.[11]

Gallery

  • Kloster Fahr IMG 5905 ShiftN.jpg

    Church and its wall painting

  • Kloster Fahr IMG 5904 ShiftN.jpg

    Altar in the church

  • Kloster Fahr IMG 5903.JPG

    Fresco on the church ceiling

  • Kloster Fahr IMG 5898 ShiftN.jpg

    Cemetery and cemetery chapel

  • Kloster Fahr - Zu den drei Raben IMG 5960 ShiftN.jpg

    Tavern zu den zwei Raben

  • Kloster Fahr - Zu den drei Raben IMG 5961.JPG

    Inn sign showing the two ravens of Einsiedeln Abbey

  • Kloster Fahr IMG 5979.JPG

    A sweet food made of honey and herbs, sold in the abbey shop

  • Kloster Fahr - Limmatfähre IMG 5983.JPG

    Ferry to the abbey (in service only on Sundays)

  • Kloster Fahr IMG 5966 ShiftN.jpg

    The agricultural school in the monastery grounds, but legally situated in the Canton of Zürich

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Tages-Anzeiger online (April 4, 2010): Das Kloster Fahr nahm jüdische Frauen auf
  4. ↑ Tages-Anzeiger online (December 8, 2006): Kloster Fahr wird eingemeindet
  5. ↑ Orden online (January 24, 2009): Kloster Fahr erhält Siegelrecht zurück
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Tages-Anzeiger (January 31, 2011): Silja Walter ist tot (German)
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Literature

External links


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