Marienthal Abbey

The origins of Marienthal date back to the first half of the 15th century, when a Marian chapel was built, first documented in 1428. Around 1460, the image of grace was created. The chapel, which received the name “Marienthal” in 1489, was expanded into a three-aisled Gothic church between 1494 and 1503. Following the introduction of the Reformation in the County of Sayn in the 16th century, pilgrimages ceased. In 1666, Count Salentin Ernst von Manderscheid founded the Franciscan monastery out of gratitude. Construction of the monastery was delayed due to its location on the border between Sayn-Hachenburg and Sayn-Altenkirchen. In 1704, the Franciscans moved into the monastery, which was replaced by a quarry stone building in 1756. Secularized in 1803 and vacated in 1813, the monastery was auctioned off in 1836. The church was partially demolished in 1839 and rebuilt smaller. After several changes of ownership, the Franciscans reoccupied the monastery in 1892 and remained until 1974.