Reifenstein Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Niederorschel, Germany.
Reifenstein Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Niederorschel featuring stone buildings surrounded by green fields. The complex includes a Baroque church and several monastery buildings within a walled enclosure, with portions remaining as ruins.
The abbey was founded in 1162 by Count Ernst of Tonna-Gleichen and suffered major destruction during the German Peasants' War in 1525. Significant reconstruction took place between 1737 and 1743.
From 1900 to 1951, the monastery functioned as an agricultural school for women, teaching farming techniques and domestic skills to local students. This role shaped the community's character during that period.
The site is now part of Eichsfeld Klinikum hospital, with the main church partially preserved as ruins and access may be limited. Check ahead to learn which areas are open to visitors.
During its peak in the thirteenth century, the abbey controlled around fifty estates in the surrounding region. This economic power made it a major landowner in the area.
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