Merxhausen Abbey

The foundation of Kloster Merxhausen occurred in 1213 by the lords Hermann and Dietrich von Blumenstein von Dörnberg, confirmed by the Archbishop of Mainz. Initially conceived as a double monastery for Augustinian canons and pious women, it was consecrated under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist. During the 13th century, the canons left the monastery, after which it served as a nunnery. Following a devastating fire in 1475 and subsequent decay, monastic life was temporarily suspended. In 1489, the nunnery was dissolved and handed over to the Windesheim Congregation. Augustinian canons from Böddeken took over the complex and rebuilt it. The secularization and final dissolution of Kloster Merxhausen took place in 1527 as part of the Reformation in Hesse. From 1533, it was utilized as a 'Hohes Hospital' (High Hospital) for the impoverished rural population.

Kloster Merxhausen is situated in the Merxhausen district of Bad Emstal, a municipality in the Kassel district of Hesse, Germany. The complex is located at an elevation of approximately 244 meters above sea level.

Today, the historic monastery complex houses the Vitos Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bad Emstal. In the monastery garden, regular performances by the amateur theater group Klosterspiele Merxhausen take place, in which clinic patients also participate. A monastery museum provides information about the history of the site. Only minor remnants of the original Romanesque church survive; the current structure is Gothic in style, with the south wing and a bay window from 1533 still preserved. Inside the church, Gothic paintings, including a depiction of Christ on the cross, as well as two epitaphs by Philipp Soldan from 1548 and 1559, can be seen.

• Riede Castle (castle, approx. 2348 m away)
• Elberberg Castle (castle, approx. 3625 m away)
• Falkenstein Ruin (Bad Emstal) (ruin, approx. 3749 m away)
• Elmshagen Manor (manor and estate house, approx. 5235 m away)