Michaelstein Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Blankenburg, Germany
Michaelstein is a Cistercian monastery in Blankenburg featuring traditional cloister buildings arranged around courtyards and a network of stone corridors. The complex includes a chapter house, refectory, agricultural outbuildings, and garden areas laid out across grounds that still show the planned organization of medieval monastic life.
The monastery was founded in 1139 by Count Burchard von Blankenburg as a Cistercian community. The Reformation brought significant change in 1543 when it transitioned to Protestant use, marking a major shift in its religious and institutional identity.
The monastery now serves as a music academy, hosting regular concerts and seminars that draw visitors and musicians. This contemporary use brings creative energy to the medieval buildings, creating a living connection between past and present.
The monastery is open daily and welcomes visitors to walk through the cloister buildings, explore the gardens, and view the music exhibition museum. Parking is available near the entrance, making access straightforward for those arriving by car.
The monastery gardens grow more than 260 varieties of medieval herbs and vegetables using traditional cultivation methods. This living garden demonstrates what monks actually grew and used in daily life.
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