Kartause Hildesheim

Kartause Hildesheim is a Carthusian monastery in Hildesheim featuring separate monastic cells for individual inhabitants, common prayer rooms, and a cloister layout that follows the order's strict design practices. The complex arranges these spaces to support the daily routine of the resident community.

The monastery was founded in 1388 by Bishop Gerhard vom Berge and experienced several relocations throughout the centuries to different sites within the city. One of these moves brought it to a location near the cathedral, which provided greater security for the community.

The monastery was a quiet place where monks spent much of their time alone in their cells, writing and studying in silence. This focus on solitude shaped how people understood their relationship with faith and learning in the community.

The monastery is located in central Hildesheim near the cathedral and is easily reached on foot from the city center. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the grounds include stairs and uneven pathways throughout the complex.

A prisoner of war from the Ottoman Empire named Bernhard Aly entered the monastery in 1708 and lived as a monk under the religious name Pater Josephus. This unusual story reveals how the community welcomed people from across the world into its contemplative life.