Minoritenkloster/Aukloster, Monschau

The monastery's origins date back to 1690, when the citizens of Monschau offered the Franciscan Minorites a settlement. After an initial refusal and a later commitment in 1693, the project was only resumed in 1711. The city of Monschau supported the endeavor by granting tax-exempt status to the proposed plot of land. In 1712, the Archbishop of Cologne approved the monastery's foundation. Initially, the Minorites erected a small provisional church, consecrated in 1714, which housed a revered image of the Virgin Mary. The actual construction of the monastery began in 1717 and was completed and consecrated in 1720. The associated monastery church of St. Mariä Empfängnis, whose foundation stone was laid in 1725, could only be consecrated in 1751 after prolonged construction delays. In the course of secularization, the monastery was dissolved in 1802, and the buildings were privatized. The former monastery church initially served as a filial church and was elevated to a parish church in 1863. Both building complexes – the monastery and the church – have been restored multiple times and have been listed as historical monuments since the 1980s.

The Minorite Monastery is situated in the town of Monschau, which belongs to the Aachen city region in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the former outskirts of Monschau, near the banks of the Rur river.

The former monastery buildings are now privately owned. The former monastery church continues to be used as a parish church. Both building complexes are protected as historical monuments and have undergone extensive restoration.

• Haller Castle Ruin (ruin, approx. 213 m away)
• Monschau Castle (castle, approx. 359 m away)
• Reichenstein Monastery (sacred building, approx. 3482 m away)
• Dreiborn Castle (castle, approx. 12354 m away)