Dominikanerkloster St. Johannis, Dominican monastery in Barmbek-Süd, Hamburg, Germany.
Dominikanerkloster St. Johannis is a monastery in Hamburg-Nord with a circular structure of three stories whose rooms all face toward an inner courtyard. This interior space functions as a cloister garden and forms the center of daily life within the community.
Founded in 1236 near present-day Rathausmarkt, the monastery moved multiple times before establishing itself at its current location between Weidestrasse and Elsastrasse in 1966. Each relocation reflected the city's changing landscape and the evolving needs of the Dominican community.
The monastery chapel displays modern artworks, including an altar by Rudolf Krüger and paintings by Johann Christoph Achert depicting Saint Dominic and Catherine of Siena. These pieces bring contemporary expression to the spiritual life within the cloister.
The grounds can be viewed from outside, but access to interior areas is limited as it remains an active monastic community. Visitors should seek out the chapel during announced opening times and dress respectfully.
The building was constructed around a deep bunker that could not be modified and remains hidden beneath the modern architecture. This concealed wartime relic shapes the entire internal geometry of the monastery structure.
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