Wechselburg Priory

Henry the Illustrious, Margrave of Meissen made a gift of it in 1278 to the Teutonic Order.

In 1543 the abbey with all its possessions came into the hands of the territorial prince, Maurice, Elector of Saxony.

After the Thirty Years' War (1618–48) the lords of Schönburg built a Baroque castle (Schloss Wechselburg) on the foundations of the ruined abbey, which remained in the same family until their dispossession in 1945.

Although the community is still small, they run a youth and family centre and are involved in pastoral care and managing the pilgrimages.

Because of its dependency on Ettal, Wechselburg is the only non-Bavarian monastery to be a member of the Bavarian Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation.