Paulinzella Abbey, Benedictine monastery ruins in Königsee, Germany.
Paulinzella Abbey is a monastery ruin in Königsee featuring sturdy stone walls and thick pillars built in Romanesque style. The site displays the outlines of the church, cloister, and outbuildings that remain visible today.
The monastery was founded around 1100 as a double community where monks and nuns lived separately. After a major fire in the 17th century, the complex was never rebuilt.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller visited the monastery ruins and documented their experiences through poetry and guest book entries.
The ruins are open year-round and free to visit at your own pace. The paths through the site are easy to navigate.
After the fire, stones from the abbey were reused to build houses in surrounding villages. Many local buildings still contain materials salvaged from this medieval site.
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