Eberbach
In 1136, in a remote valley above Eltville-Kiedrich, Cistercian monks founded Kloster Eberbach (Monastery), 65343 Eltville. On a large estate, the monks not only built one of the best-preserved monasteries in the region, but also excelled in farming. The monks, who were strict vegetarians, concentrated on agriculture and were particularly successful in viniculture. At one stage, the monks even owned their own fleet of ships for transporting the produce down the Rhine. The monastery was secularized in 1803, but most of it has been preserved as a museum. The Romanesque church was stripped of its art in earlier wars and remains bare, which emphasizes the stark straight lines of the style. The Gothic monks’ dormitory, at 73 m (240 feet) long, is one of the largest halls of the period. A few Baroque elements also found their way into later additions, but only the refectory with its stucco ceiling is truly representative of that style. It is surrounded by a wall five m (16 feet) high, just over a km (.6 mile) long, which has been preserved from the 13th century. The monastery is nearing the end of a 25-year restoration project and is in excellent condition.
Eberbach is, at 560 acres, the largest single vineyard in Germany and belongs to the state of Hesse. A wine academy is housed in the estate. Kloster Eberbach wines are highly rated and for sale on the premises.
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