Æbelholt Abbey, Augustinian monastery ruins in Hillerød Municipality, Denmark
Æbelholt Abbey is a monastery ruin in Hillerød that was once the largest Augustinian house in Northern Europe. The site displays stone church walls, excavated graves, and a functioning medicinal garden with herbs.
The monastery was founded in 1175 and initially settled on Eskilsø Island before moving to its current location through a land grant from Archbishop Absalon. It quickly became an important center for learning and medical practice in the region.
The monastery served as a healing center in medieval times, where monks grew medicinal herbs to treat patients from across the region. The garden demonstrates which plants were valued for their health-giving properties back then.
The site is easily accessible with largely flat terrain, making for a pleasant walk through the ruins. Digital tablets available on-site help visitors visualize the original buildings and understand the layout as they explore.
The monastery conducted advanced medical research and maintained one of the earliest medical libraries in the North. Excavated skeletons and surgical instruments reveal that monks performed procedures and treatments ahead of their time.
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