During Karolinger Times

The Adelhausen Portable Altar

2014 is the 1200th anniversary of the death of Carl the Great. On this occasion the Augustiner Museum is hosting a unique cabinet exhibition with their most important piece of art: the so-called Adelhausen portable altar.

It dates back to Karolinger times and is one of the oldest existing portable altars. They were used by the secular and religious high society during travels or wars and were acknowledged as sacred, holy altars for Eucharistic masses. They served the same purpose as non portable altars in churches.

The portable altar is held in purple porphyry, with gold and niello decorations in silver along with numerous enamel works which turn it into one of the most valuable treasures of the Augustinermuseum’s treasure chamber.