Kartause Marienburg

Kartause Marienburg is a Carthusian monastery near Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, featuring stone buildings arranged around a central courtyard. The complex was constructed on the remains of a 12th-century water castle and preserves the former monastery church of St. James alongside medieval structures.

The monastery was founded in 1476 and was the only Carthusian establishment in the Westphalia region. It operated continuously until 1802, when secularization brought its religious function to an end.

The monastery now operates as Anna-Katharinenstift Karthaus, providing residential spaces and workshops for people with disabilities. This active use shapes daily life at the site and demonstrates how a historic religious space serves contemporary needs.

The site is accessible for exploration of the preserved medieval structures and grounds. It is helpful to check in advance which areas are open to visitors, as the complex operates as a residential foundation today.

The original gatehouse from the earlier water castle remains integrated within the complex and still displays its defensive architecture. This blend of fortress elements with monastic buildings is unusual and shows how secular and religious purposes were combined at this site.