Sonnefeld Abbey

The nunnery, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was founded in 1260 by Henry II von Sonneberg[1] and his wife Kunigunde.

Initially it was located in Ebersdorf bei Coburg but after a fire in 1287 it was moved to Hofstädten, where the abbey with its surrounding settlement and district adopted the name "Sonnefeld".

The landowner was the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg, Berthold of Leiningen, who was trying by means of the monastic foundation to stop the territorial advances of the Counts of Henneberg.

The provisions for the unmarried daughters and widows of nobles and wealthy townspeople soon became the focus of the life of the community.

Through Abbess Anna von Henneberg the abbey gained possession of vineyards in Nassach (Aidhausen) and in Nüdlingen.

A year later, when the abbess died, the officials of John, Elector of Saxony, appointed an administrator over the abbey's property.

A few decades later, Anna of Saxony spent several years of her captivity in the former nunnery and after she died in 1613 was brought back here for burial in the church.

The church was built, according to the custom of the Cistercians, with a ground-level vault next to the choir and nave, which supported the nuns' gallery (Nonnenempore).

The choir area was the work of Heinrich Parler but its character was partially lost because of fires and renovations.