Münchenbuchsee Commandery
The Münchenbuchsee Commandery is a former Knights Hospitaller commandry in the municipality of Münchenbuchsee in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
During the 12th century, the area around Münchenbuchsee was part of the lands of the Baron of Buhse. In 1180, Cuno of Buhse or Buchsee granted all of his lands to the Order of St. John, also known as the Knights Hospitaller. This land grant included the villages of Münchenbuchsee, Wankdorf and Worblaufen as well as vineyards on Lake Biel. In 1192, the Pope confirmed this gift on the Hospitallers. Shortly thereafter it was converted into a commandery under the Order. The neighboring nobility and the citizens of Bern granted the Commandery additional lands. This included the church of Twann (1252), Moosseedorf (1256), Krauchthal (1273), Bremgarten (1306), Wohlen (1320), the castle, court and village of Moosseedorf (1256-57) and the district of Bremgarten (1306). The Commandery had its own seal by 1264. In 1329, Bern granted Bernese citizenship to the Commandery.[1]
Originally the Commandery was surrounded by a wall, though this was eventually demolished. The south side of the complex contained the courtyard of the oldest part of Cuno's castle, the convent house (housing for the brothers), the commandery house and a church. The church's choir was built in 1260-80 and the stained glass is from the 13th century. The church's tower was built in 1891. On the north side of the complex there was a "summer home", a guest house and workshops.[1]
The monastic community was always quite small. In 1480, only the commander, the prior and six brothers lived there. The brothers at the Commandery were responsible for providing pastoral leadership, operating a pilgrims' hospital and caring for the poor. During the Protestant Reformation in 1528, Commander Peter Englisberg supported the secularization of the Commandery and received Bremgarten Castle as a reward. The Commandery house became a rectory, the convent house with outbuildings became a granary and the remaining buildings were used to administer the bailiwick of Münchenbuchsee. On the north side a bailiff's castle and tithe barn were built in 1600-20, on the site of a medieval building.[1]