Bergen auf Rügen Abbey

Bergen auf Rügen Abbey is a stone monastery complex situated on elevated ground beside St. Mary's Church, displaying typical medieval architecture of northern German religious buildings. The structures preserve the layout of a working monastery with cloister, church, and residential quarters, reflecting the order's values through their restrained design.

The monastery was founded in 1193 by Prince Jaromar I as a Benedictine house, later transitioning to the Cistercian order and receiving papal confirmation in 1250. This shift marked a turning point, as the stricter Cistercian rules reshaped the community and its influence across Rügen.

The monastery served as a spiritual hub that shaped life on Rügen Island for centuries and extended its influence across the landscape. Visitors today can sense how monks lived and worked here, shaping the region's religious practices and customs.

The site is easily accessible on foot with clear signage and information panels throughout explaining the different structures. Allow time to walk through the complex slowly, and note that some areas may be restricted depending on events or maintenance work.

The monastery systematically accumulated scattered lands across the island, acquiring entire villages such that by 1344 it controlled fourteen parishes, making it one of Rügen's most powerful landholders. This concentration of property allowed the monks to shape not just religious life but also the economic and social order of the region.