The Hospital / Museum

In Swabian dialect, it's called "dr Spittl." Founded around 1239, it is the oldest existing charitable foundation in Württemberg.

The knights Ulrich and Halwig von Essendorf had joined a crusade to the Holy Land and vowed to establish a house for the poor and sick, those neglected by others - a hospital - upon their safe return.

They kept their promise together with the Biberach town administrator Bertold Hupmann.

At the heart of the hospital's activities were acts of mercy. This included caring for the sick and burying the dead, all for God's grace, meaning free of charge. Pilgrims also had the right to free accommodation in the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. However, the obligation was to pray daily for the salvation of the founders as well as the donors.

From the 14th century onwards, the hospital was moved from the location of the present-day Holy Spirit Church at the Protestant cemetery to within the town walls. It soon became a significant territory with possessions in up to eighty villages and sometimes 2,300 subjects - a town within the town with its own mill, brewery, and agriculture.

As you walk through the gate of the hospital courtyard, you'll see the Evangelical Hospital Church in the middle. During guided tours, the doors are opened, allowing you a glimpse of the beautiful keystones.

Today, the hospital also houses one of the most important regional museums in Baden-Württemberg. A unique feature is the historical artist studios of Munich painters Anton Braith and Christian Mali. Highlights of the art collection include paintings and woodcuts of the expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Directly opposite the museum entrance is the Catholic Hospital Church.

For more information, please visit www.museum-biberach.de Have a look inside the Evangelical Hospital Church? Attend one of our guided tours at https://tourismus.biberach-riss.de/Experience-Biberach/Guided-city-tours