Marbach Abbey and Its Gardens

Founded in 1089 by knight Burckard de Gueberschwihr following a divine vision, Marbach Abbey quickly became a major spiritual center in Alsace. According to legend, Burckard, a vassal of the Bishop of Strasbourg, was ordered in a dream to establish a monastery where he rested near the Marbach stream. He invested his personal fortune and was supported by the Counts of Eguisheim, who also financed the project. Construction began with the choir and Saint Augustine chapel, before the narthex was completed between 1130 and 1140, forming an imposing complex for its time.

The abbey's life was marked by political and religious conflicts. In 1084, Manegold, dean of Rottenbach Abbey, wrote a text defending the pope's rights against Emperor Henry IV. Enraged, Henry IV plundered the Lautenbach valley and destroyed the fledgling monastery. Manegold went into hiding before returning in 1094 at Burckard's call. In 1096, Pope Urban II blessed the abbey, attracting many faithful. However, Henry IV, preparing revenge, captured Manegold in 1098 and imprisoned him until 1103. Manegold died that year, though the exact date is unknown. Burckard, the abbey's founder, died in 1120 at age 90 and was buried in the abbey church.

Under Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's protection from 1153, the abbey enjoyed a golden age. It housed a renowned illumination workshop, including the famous Codex Guta Sintram, created by canoness Guta de Schwartzenthann and canon Sintram. This work structured the life of the canonesses. Marbach also became a center for religious dissemination, founding new monasteries in Alsace, the Danube basin, and Austria.

In the 13th century, Marbach's church, over 65 meters long and 20 meters wide, was one of the region's largest, nicknamed the "Alsatian Cluny." Yet the abbey suffered many setbacks: three fires (1253, 1290, 1351) and ten plunders. Despite these trials, it prospered until its suppression in 1791 during the French Revolution.

Sold at auction in 1791, the abbey was demolished and its stones sold as building materials. Between 1809 and 1830, the church, cloister, and two towers disappeared. Today, only the narthex, or "Paradise," with its three Romanesque arches dating from 1152, partially restored in 1992, remains. The 1490 porch and 1496 enclosure wall complete the ruins, offering a place for meditation. The abbey also hosts a varied cultural program.