Marienstuhl Abbey

The Marienstuhl Monastery was founded in 1259 by the nobleman Otto von Hadmersleben and his wife Jutta von Blankenburg. It was intended for Cistercian nuns who lived according to the Rule of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Mechthild von Blankenburg, Jutta's sister, became the first abbess. Through numerous endowments, the monastery quickly achieved economic independence, engaging in agriculture, livestock farming, and the cultivation of medicinal herbs. It also maintained an apothecary, an infirmary, an embroidery workshop for paraments, a monastic school, and various other crafts. Despite the introduction of the Reformation in Egeln in 1547, which saw the town become Protestant and some clergy and nuns lean towards Lutheranism, the monastery steadfastly adhered to the Catholic faith. Between 1577 and 1730, the monastery church was shared with the Protestant community. The buildings visible today were constructed between 1696 and 1734, with the old Gothic monastery church being demolished and rebuilt in an enlarged form. The unique Baroque interior decoration was completed by 1738.