Ebstorf Abbey

The precise founding of Ebstorf Abbey around 1160 is attributed to Count Walrad and his wife Gerburg. It was originally dedicated to Saint Mauritius and housed regular canons. Following a fire in the 12th century, Benedictine nuns from Walsrode Abbey relocated here, and Ebstorf evolved into a Marian pilgrimage site. In the 15th century, the nuns' way of life became stricter due to the Bursfelde Reforms, and a new wall was built around the grounds. In 1529, Duke Ernst the Confessor transformed the monastery into an evangelical convent for noblewomen, a form it retains to this day.