Abbey Marienwohlde

Abbey Marienwohlde is a Bridgettine monastery near Lankau with a church, residential quarters for nuns, and community buildings. The complex contains thirteen altars within the church consecrated in 1458, showing the typical layout of a medieval monastery with connected structures arranged around the religious and practical needs of the community.

The monastery was founded in 1412 when monks and nuns from Mariendal Monastery near Reval (now Tallinn) established themselves there. This unusual eastward-to-westward movement was part of the Bridgettine order spreading across northern Europe during this period.

The monastery is named after veneration of Mary and still follows the practices established by the Bridgettine order. The nuns structure their days through regular prayer times and quiet reflection that shape life within the community.

The monastery sits in a rural setting and is accessible by country roads, though it remains distant from major urban centers. Keep in mind this is an active religious community, so respect for the daily routines of the residents is important when visiting.

The monastery grew wealthy through trading networks between Hamburg, Lübeck, and Lüneburg, and by 1424 had become the motherhouse for a branch monastery in Stralsund. This economic strength allowed it to serve as a model for founding other communities.