Convent of St. Mariestern, Cistercian nunnery in Panschwitz-Kuckau, Germany.
The Convent of St. Mariestern is a Cistercian nunnery in Panschwitz-Kuckau, Saxony, featuring a Gothic abbey church and several functional buildings. The complex includes a monastery courtyard, a medicinal herb garden, a bakery building, a shop, and guest accommodations.
The convent was founded on January 17, 1248, and has maintained continuous religious functions since then. It survived numerous political and social transformations across Saxony over many centuries.
The convent serves as a gathering place for the Sorbian minority, keeping their Catholic faith and customs alive in this region. Visitors can observe how this community maintains their language and heritage through daily activities within the monastery.
The monastery courtyard, church side entrance, and shop are wheelchair accessible for visitors. Guided tours explain how the resident nuns structure their daily routines and activities.
The monastery once brewed beer on-site until 1973, when production moved away, but the traditional recipe survives in a nearby brewery in Wittichenau. You can still purchase this historic beer today under the name Kloster St. Marienstern - Klosterbraeu.
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