Schillingscapellen Abbey (Dünstekoven)

The monastery of Schillingscapellen was founded in 1197. Initially inhabited by Premonstratensian nuns, it was taken over by Augustinian Canonesses around 1450. Dedicated to Mary, the monastery evolved over centuries into an important religious center. Numerous donations of lands, farms, and relics contributed to its prosperity. Two Romanesque statues of Mary, revered within the monastery, attracted many pilgrims. The economic foundation was a large farm with livestock, fishponds, a brewery, distillery, and grain mill. Stones from the Roman Eifel Aqueduct were used in the construction of its buildings. In 1802, the monastery was dissolved as part of the secularization, and its assets were nationalized.