Historical information

The convent of St. Marienthal is a Cistercian abbey, which currently (January 2020) houses 10 nuns. St. Marienthal is the oldest nunnery of this order in Germany, which has existed uninterruptedly since its foundation.

Following the monastic tradition, the monastery was founded in 1234 by Kunigunde, wife of King Wenzel of Bohemia, near a trade route leading from Prague via Zittau to Görlitz. As early as 1235 St. Marienthal was incorporated into the Cistercian Order and assigned to its Bohemian province.

Further information on the history of the St. Marienthal Monastery can be found here. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kloster_St._Marienthal

2019

Guest houses Marienthal receive “fast internet”. Redesign of the former cattle yard into a kind of “amphitheatre”. Redesign of the outdoor facilities below the vineyard as well as in front of the former provostry and in front of the Chapel of the Cross and St. Michael’s Chapel.

2018

Guest houses Marienthal once again awarded three stars by DEHOGA.

2017

External renovation of the former horse stable. First fruit and wine festival in October with almost 3,000 visitors. Award in Berlin with the “Sustainability Award”.

2016

Visit of the Federal President Gauck. Erection of additional flood protection for individual buildings: Celsa Pia House,the St. Franziskus Guest House and the “House of the Family”!

2015

Installation of an acoustic plaster in the dining room and in the large lecture hall in the Celsa Pia House.

2014

Completion of the renovation of the former cattle shed and the former calf barn of the St. Marienthal monastery to the new “St. Clemens Guest House”.

2008

Award of the certificate “Award for service- oriented service company within the framework of Service Quality Saxony”. The IBZ now obtains 100% electricity from renewable energy sources. The hiking trails in the monastery and city forest have been newly signposted by the IBZ.

2007

Completion of flood protection works around the monastery site (area protection).

2005

Restoration of the Trinity Fountain in the monastery grounds.

2002

Renovation of the former cart shed into the “House of the family”.

2000

Completion of the renovation of the east wing of the former brewery as the site for the permanent exhibition “ora etlabora”.

1999

Completion of the garden of bible plants in the former pig enclosure as well as the reception and tourist information in the former brewery.

1998

Completion of the St. Franziskus-House (former mill and mill barn) as a guest house.

1994

Renovation of the St. Hedwig guest house and start of meeting and educational activities.

1993

Takeover of the former farm buildings of St. Marienthal Abbey by means of a 30-year hereditary lease.

1992

Establishment of the foundation “International Meeting Centre St. Marienthal” by St. Marienthal Abbey.

1991

Beginning of conceptual planning for the use of the former farm buildings of St. Marienthal Abbey through the construction of a meeting centre.