Kloster Caldern, Cistercian monastery in Caldern, Germany
Kloster Caldern is a Cistercian monastery in Germany made up of several stone buildings organized around a central courtyard. The site includes a chapel, residential quarters, covered walkways, and a recently designed monastery garden enclosed by the original walls.
The monastery was founded in 1238 and received a chapel from Landgravine Sophie of Thuringia that became the center of worship for the sisters. Over the next centuries it grew into an economically strong community through strategic land acquisitions and managed farming operations.
The community here developed a textile workshop where sisters made linen and wool cloth that served both internal needs and local markets. This craft work was central to daily life and gave the monastery an important role in regional trade.
The grounds are open to walk around and you can see preserved wall sections, the monastery church, and a contemporary garden area. Plan time to move slowly through different sections so you can observe the layout and take in the quiet surroundings.
Between 1250 and 1350 the monastery purchased land strategically to become fully self-sufficient, establishing mills, stables, forests, and extensive farmland. This focus on independence made it one of the most successful estates in the region.
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