Engelthal is a municipality near Nürnberg (Nuremberg) in the Frankenalb (Frankish Alb).

The place was named Swinnahe in former times and mentioned first in 1058/1059 on the occasion of the consecration of a church by bishop Gundekar von Eichstätt.

Engelthal was established as a cloister (Dominican nuns) at 1240 from Ulrich von Königstein auf Reicheneck.

Mentioned first officially in 1245 and in 1339 given protection from emperor Ludwig as of the Nürnberger Rat and the city of Nuremberg.

Engelthal is also notable for Engelthal Abbey, the home of several notable medieval writers and mystics, including Christina Ebner and Adelheid Langmann.