Klosterruine Ober-Werbe, Medieval monastery ruins on limestone cliffs in Waldeck, Germany.
Klosterruine Ober-Werbe is a medieval Benedictine complex perched on a limestone cliff above the village of the same name. The surviving walls show the layout of residential and prayer spaces, while the exposed cliff-top location offers sweeping views across the valley below.
The monastery was founded in 1038 by Count Wittekind II and underwent major change in 1207 when it converted from a male to a female Benedictine community. This transformation shaped the institution for the remaining centuries of its operation.
The site reflects the long role of monastic communities in this region, where religious women cultivated learning and crafts for centuries. The ruins still show how this place was shaped by the daily life of the nuns, with spaces for prayer, work, and communal living.
The ruins are accessible from the village via marked hiking trails and sit on an exposed cliff top with open ground. Sturdy footwear is necessary and there are no protective barriers, so caution is needed at the edges.
Peregrine falcons nest on the cliff edge today and are often spotted by visitors approaching the ruins. This bird colony has established itself here over generations, making the site a vantage point for wildlife watchers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
