Kloster Marienborn

Kloster Marienborn is a Cistercian monastery in Zülpich featuring a Romanesque church with distinctive architectural details and proportions. It houses the important Hovener Madonna sculpture from the 12th century, a work of remarkable artistic quality.

The monastery was founded in 1188 by Cistercian nuns from the Abbey of St Thomas in Kyll. It underwent significant transformations during the Thirty Years War and the period of French occupation.

The church preserves Roman inscription stones in its apse, revealing traces of an earlier temple dedicated to the Matrons. This layering of history gives the sacred space a distinctive character rooted in the past.

The monastery is now part of MARIENBORN gGmbH and operates as a facility for psychiatric and psychotherapy services. Visitors should check in advance which areas are accessible, as the site still functions as an active care facility.

Saint Hermann Joseph of Steinfeld spent his final days at this monastery before his death in 1246. His connection to the place makes him an important part of the religious history woven into the site.