Kulturforum Burgkloster, Medieval monastery and cultural center in Old City, Germany.
Kulturforum Burgkloster is a monastery building in Brick Gothic style within Lübeck's Old City, featuring long halls, chapter rooms, and preserved prison cells within ancient walls. The structure retains spaces from various functions spanning religious use through later detention purposes.
The building began as a Dominican monastery in 1227 and was converted to a poorhouse in 1531, later serving as a courthouse and prison facility. Over time, its function shifted repeatedly before becoming a cultural space.
The monastery reveals how religious communities lived and worked in Northern Germany. The spaces tell stories of monks, poor residents, and prisoners who shaped different phases of the building.
The site is easily accessible on foot and offers exhibition areas open to visitors of different ages. The rooms are well-lit and accessible, though some older staircases require attention if needed.
Two preserved cells document the detention of clergy members by the Nazi regime in 1942 for their resistance to authority. These rooms reveal personal traces from a dark chapter of German history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
