Kloster Benden, Cistercian monastery in Brühl, Germany.
Kloster Benden is a Cistercian monastery in Brühl featuring stone buildings constructed according to the order's principles of simplicity and functionality. The complex still displays its characteristic layout with a cloister, church, and service buildings from different periods.
The monastery was founded in 1207 and operated as a Cistercian convent for women until its closure in 1802 during the secularization period. This shutdown was part of a major upheaval when the state dissolved many religious institutions across the region.
For centuries, this monastery served as a place where women lived according to religious rules while also managing the surrounding farmland. The community shaped everyday life in the region through their labor and knowledge.
Access to the buildings depends on current conditions, so it helps to check ahead. The stone complex may have uneven terrain, especially in older sections, so appropriate footwear is useful.
The monastery buildings remained relatively intact after closure, which was not the case for many dissolved convents. This allowed it to later be protected as a heritage monument and today it stands as a witness to this way of life.
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