WEINGARTEN. - A Benedictine abbey in Württemberg. It is the ancient *Monasterium Vinearum* "ad Vineas, prope Altdorffum."
It was founded in 934 by Count Henry, father of St. Conrad of Constance, as a women’s monastery, destroyed by fire in 1953. Welf IV built the new monastery, which passed to the Benedictines in 1057. The buildings and church, ruined in 1124, were rebuilt in 1182, resulting in a Romanesque basilica. The abbey received privileges from popes and kings. Among its abbots were Conrad II of Ibach (1315–36), John II Blarer (1418–51), George Wegelin (1587–1627), considered the second founder of W., Sebastian Hyller (1697–1730), who renovated the church, and Dominic II Schmitzer (1745–1802). Its library was renowned, containing 800 manuscripts and over 20,000 volumes. The monastic buildings were used as a barracks from 1868 to 1919. In 1922, the abbey of St. Thomas in Erdington was established there.
The present buildings date to the 18th century and were designed by D. G. Frisoni and F. Beer. The church is Baroque, adorned with frescoes by G. D. Asam, stuccowork by Fr. Schmuzer, decorations by Carlone, Frisoni, and Corbellini, and the artistic choir stalls by J. A. Feichtmayer. It is a pilgrimage site, especially on the Friday after Ascension, for the relic of the Precious Blood.