Waldsassen Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Waldsassen, Germany
Waldsassen Abbey is a Benedictine convent in Bavaria with a splendid baroque church whose twin towers are visible from far away. The complex includes extensive cloisters, a library with elaborate wooden shelves and painted ceilings, plus residential and service buildings from different periods.
A margrave from the Vohburg-Cham dynasty founded the monastery in 1133 and invited monks from central Germany to settle there. It later became a convent for women and has maintained continuous religious life for nearly nine centuries.
The abbey takes its name from a forest spring nearby and is now home to Benedictine nuns who continue monastic life within these baroque buildings. Visitors can observe how the sisters organize their daily rhythm between the church, workshops, and gardens.
The monastery offers visitors a guesthouse with overnight accommodation and uses part of its facilities for events and seminars. The grounds are easy to explore on level paths and accessible from the outside, with the church open for viewing at certain times.
The abbey's library was furnished by a craftsman with elaborate wooden carvings showing biblical scenes and theological symbols. These handmade details give the reading room layers of decoration that reveal themselves only upon close looking.
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