Schwäbisch Gmünd, a charming town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is home to a remarkable historical gem: the Prediger. This former Dominican monastery, now a vibrant cultural center, stands as a testament to centuries of history, resilience, and transformation. Nestled in the heart of the town at Johannisplatz, opposite the Romanesque Johanniskirche, the Prediger invites visitors to explore its rich past and dynamic present.
The roots of the Prediger stretch back to 1294 when the Gmünder convent joined the Dominican Order, likely established from Esslingen. Legend has it that the monastery was founded in a hunting lodge donated by a noblewoman as an act of penance, transforming a place of sin into a sanctuary of God. The monastery's church was dedicated to Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of penitent sinners. Historians, however, believe the foundation occurred in a manor house either belonging to the Rechberg family, successors of the Hohenstaufen in the Gmünder area, or the town community as successors of the Hohenstaufen city lords.
In the mid-14th century, a new Gothic church was constructed, completed around 1356, as evidenced by the first masses held there. The church became the final resting place for several members of the Rechberg family. The 18th century saw a significant baroque transformation of the monastery under the guidance of Dominikus Zimmermann, with the foundation stone laid on July 2, 1724. The baroque renovation of the church, led by Johann Michael Keller the Younger, was completed in 1764, making it the second-largest church construction in the imperial city after the Gmünder Münster.
The monastery's fate took a dramatic turn in 1802 when the imperial city transitioned to Württemberg. The monks were forced to leave on December 29, and the monastery was converted into a barracks, with the once magnificent church repurposed as a wood magazine and later a horse stable. This period saw significant destruction of the church's interior, including the loss of the baroque ceiling fresco by Johann Anwander, with only a design drawing remaining in the State Graphic Collection in Munich.
In 1919, the Old Barracks were taken over by the city, housing 30 emergency apartments. The building's use evolved over the years, with the establishment of Nazi offices and cultural spaces in 1938, and later conversion into 200 emergency apartments post-World War II. From 1947 to 1965, debates raged over the building's future, with a 1960 proposal to demolish it for a department store. However, a citizens' initiative led to the decision to renovate the Prediger in 1965. The cultural center was inaugurated on March 23, 1973, although the restoration involved significant alterations to the remaining medieval and baroque structures.
Between 2010 and 2012, the Prediger underwent extensive renovations, costing around nine million euros, to restore its original appearance as much as possible. Today, the building's exterior features two commemorative plaques: one by Jakob Wilhelm Fehrle at the choir's apex, honoring over 3,000 officers and soldiers who fell in World War I, and another on the south side of the choir, initially installed in 1995, listing the victims of National Socialism in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Since 1973, the Prediger has housed the Municipal Museum and, since 1994, the Gallery in the Prediger, which regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. The cultural center includes a covered courtyard, a large and small hall in the former monastery church, and the baroque refectory with 18th-century stucco for various events.
The museum's history dates back to 1876, making it one of the oldest museums in Baden-Württemberg. Initially founded as a society by a citizen initiative, the museum boasts one of the region's most significant collections. A major milestone was the donation of the Erhard collection by manufacturer Julius Erhard in 1890, adding over 1,000 objects to the museum's holdings. Today, the Gmünder Museum Society continues to support the museum, which houses approximately 13,000 works in the fields of art, jewelry, and crafts, making it one of the largest museums in the state.
The museum's collection includes works by Albrecht Dürer, Georg Strobel, Hans Baldung Grien, and Emanuel Leutze, two sons of the town. Initially serving as a model collection and later as an industrial museum, the museum focuses on local gold and silversmithing, a significant trade and production sector in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The collection also includes church treasures from several dissolved monasteries, including the Prediger, and the extensive Münster treasure from the Gmünder Münster. The museum also features liturgical objects, figures, and a panel painting from 1419 depicting Veronica's veil. Since 2013, copies of the Imperial Regalia have been on display in the museum's treasury.
Due to the town's location on the Limes and extensive archaeological excavations, the museum also boasts a collection of Roman artifacts. The museum's collection is continually expanded through inheritances, donations, and purchases.
Opened in 1994, the gallery is located on the ground floor of the former monastery church. The exhibition space, with its modern design, still reflects the church's three-aisled layout, with large windows allowing ample natural light. The gallery hosts around five exhibitions annually, with a focus on themes related to nature and landscape.
Over the years, the gallery has hosted numerous notable exhibitions, including:
The Prediger in Schwäbisch Gmünd is more than just a historical building; it's a vibrant cultural hub that bridges the past and present. Whether you're a history enthusiast, art lover, or simply a curious traveler, the Prediger offers a rich and engaging experience that shouldn't be missed.
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