St. Märgen - place of pilgrimage
The Augustine monastery of St. Märgen was founded in 1118 when settlement started in the Black Forest.In 1115 already, Augustine monks settled on Black Forest ranges and founded the so-called “cella Sanctae Mariae” – the village of St. Märgen. They came on initiative of Bruno, the canon of Strasbourg, who belonged to the earls of Haigerloch-Wiesneck, an influential Medieval family with properties in the valley of Dreisamtal near Freiburg. They had lived a hermit life in the diocese of bishop Richwins of Toul (Lorraine) before.
The History of the place of pilgrimage St. Märgen
| 1125 | 1st authenticated document: canon Bruno of Strasbourg is mentioned to have built the church of St. Märgen on his property at his own expense. There aren´t any traces left of this church ? as it is the case with lots of other Medieval buildings. |
| 1284 | we're told that, after a great fire, the monastery has just been rebuilt. |
| 1316 | onsecration of a chapel in honour of all saints (among them Holy Michael) in the steeple built by Abbot Dietmar; it seems to be one of the Michael's chapels popular at that time |
| 1430 | destruction of the church by fire |
| 1493 | reconstruction under the reign of Abbot Eberhard Rotkopf, documented by an old stone plate in the lintel in the western part of the church where it was written as follows: "I'm called cella Sanctae Mariae, in the year ... I've been destroyed by fire, together with the organ, the bells, books, chalices and everything ? In 1493, I was rebuilt by abbot Erhard Rotkopf in honour of the Allmighty and Holy Mary." |
| 1560 | 2nd destruction of the church by fire |
| 1704 | in May of this year, French troops destroyed the reconstructed church and vicarage during the Spanish war of succession. |
| 1706 | reconstruction of vicarage |
| 1715 | contract between canon Andreas Dilger and Christoph Winkler, architect of Stanzach; project: demolition of the church ruins and complete church reconstruction. Architect Winkler leaves St. Märgen for his home village. Contract with Johannes Greising (Forest of Bregenz) from Freiburg: carpernter´s project to be realized in the church. |
| 1716 | inauguration of the church, fully completed in 1718 with a façade of new red sandstone. |
| 1723 | transfer of the miraculous image from the "All Saints´ Church" / Freiburg to the church of St. Märgen (October 10th - now pilgrims' day) |
| 1725 | consecration of the church by suffragan bishop Franz Johann Anton of Sirgenstein; on April 29th: laying of foundations of the monastery building |
| 1729 | consecration of the monastery by abbot Andreas Dilger |
| 1733 | Joseph Feuchtmayer, a Jesuit monk from Rottweil, starts painting the inner walls of the monastery church |
| 1735 | altarpieces are picked up at Feuchtmayer's home in Rottweil |
| 1736 | Matthias Faller, also known as Brother Floridus, carves the altar of clemency, the altar of the cross and theJoseph's altar; till autumn of the same year all three are framed by Laubacher from Freiburg |
| 1742 - 1743 | the church is completed by side altars (as it is said, by master joiner Martin Hermann from Villingen); sculptures are made by Matthias Faller, the abbot's valet. |
| 1744 | contract with the art joiner Martin Hermann from Villingen concerning delivery of the high altar, established on August 28th, 1745; the sculptures again made by Matthias Faller, at that time at home in "Obere Fallengrund", belonging to the community of Neukirch / Black Forest |
| 1749 | agreement made with bell founder Nikolaus Rossier from Lorraine |
| 1752 | framework of the high altar by Johann Meinrad from Löffingen |
| 1760 - 1761 | construction of the 2nd part of the monastery, the so-called prelate's building, by master mason Johannes Baptiste Häring from Freiburg |
| 1768 | fathers and monks of the monastery influence the production of music clocks |
| 1770 | monastery sculptor Matthias Faller gets famous as a clock-plate carver |
| 1771 | Simon Göser starts painting the antependia of the altar of clemency |
| 1776 | contract with Johann Andreas Silbermann, organ builder from Strasbourg, concerning delivery of an organ for the monastery church; the organ was completed and established at the end of June 1777 |
| 1806 | secularization of the Augustine Monastery by the State of Baden |
| 1907 | a lightening stroke destroys the parish church and also parts of the monastery buildings; the same year reconstruction is set about |
| 1995 | Pauline Monastery |
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