Franz Beer

His son Johann Michael Beer also was an architect. Franz Beer was born in Au im Bregenzerwald in Vorarlberg, Beer was apprenticed to Michael Thumb. His first major project was the monastery church at Marchtal Abbey near Obermarchtal which he completed after the death of Thumb in 1690, together with the latter's son, Christian Thumb, also an architect. He also had the churches at Rheinau Abbey and the monastery of Saint Urban, both in Switzerland, built. Amongst other projects, he was involved in the construction of the churches at Weingarten Abbey, which started in 1717, and Weissenau Abbey from 1717 until 1724. Together with Michael Thumb, Christian Thumb and Kaspar Moosbrugger, he was one of the main representatives of the so-called Vorarlberg School of architecture (Auer Zunft), which continued the Roman Baroque ideal of long edifices with galleries and mainly two bell towers. In 1722, he was ennobled and took the name Franz Beer, Edler von Blaichten.

• Marchtal Abbey, abbey church. • Rheinau Abbey, abbey church. • Saint Urban's Abbey, abbey church. • Weingarten Abbey, abbey church. • Salem Abbey, reconstruction of the monastery 1697-1710, including a chapel in nearby Stefansfeld. • Hauterive Abbey, from 1715 • Kaisheim Abbey, from 1716 • Gengenbach Abbey, reconstruction of the monastery and bell tower 1690-1722. • Weissenau Abbey, reconstruction of the church 1717-1723/

The authorities additionally record the headings Franz Bär, Franz, II Beer von Bleichten and Franz, II Beer. His recorded language was German. His recorded confession was Catholicism. One child is recorded: Johann Michael Beer von Bleichten.