Cusanusstift, Library and cultural monument in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
The Cusanusstift, also known as the St. Nicholas Hospital, is a 15th-century building complex in Bernkastel-Kues along the Moselle river with a library, wine museum, and residential rooms. The compound preserves its medieval architecture and shows how both secular and religious functions were intertwined.
Nicholas of Cusa founded this foundation in 1458 to serve the local population through education, healthcare, and support. The building and its collections show how knowledge and care were preserved through the centuries.
The foundation shows how a prosperous religious community organized its daily spaces with beautiful courtyards and rooms for visitors. You can see today how the rooms were arranged and what activities took place within these walls.
The building sits in the old town right along the river, easy to reach on foot and with parking nearby. The rooms are accessible with a few stairs, and the collections are clearly presented so you can explore at your own pace.
The library holds one of the few surviving copies of a rare medieval text that is found nowhere else. This hand-copied manuscript shows how important the collection was for preserving knowledge.
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