Kloster Medingen

About the museum

The convent's beginnings go back to 1228, when a Cistercian brother and four nuns from Wolmirstedt founded a women's community under the patronage of Saint Maurice. After several changes of location, the convent finally settled in 1336 in the village of Zellensen, which was thereafter called Medingen. Many of the nuns came from wealthy Lüneburg families and brought rich endowments with them, including shares in the Lüneburg saltworks.

After a convent reform from 1479, the nuns wrote and illuminated precious personal prayer books; more than fifty of these Medingen manuscripts survive and are today scattered across libraries in Europe and America. In 1494 Medingen was elevated to an abbey; the first abbess, Margarete Puffen, had a magnificent abbess's staff made for the occasion, which is still used on special occasions today. The Reformation prevailed only after long resistance; since 1554 Medingen has been a Protestant women's foundation.

A major fire destroyed the residential buildings and parts of the cloister in 1781. A new complex in the early neoclassical style was built to plans by Christian Ludwig Ziegler, with its church consecrated in 1788: an H-shaped building with a bright domed rotunda in the center, without equal in northern Germany. The brick brewhouse still bears witness to the medieval convent.

Today Protestant women live in the foundation in a Christian community under the leadership of an abbess; the Klosterkammer Hannover looks after the complex. During the season the foundation's ladies guide visitors through the church and convent buildings.

Highlights

• Early neoclassical H-shaped convent complex, unique in northern Germany
• St. Maurice convent church as a bright domed rotunda (consecrated 1788)
• Abbess's staff from 1494
• Medieval brick brewhouse
• Tours led by the foundation's ladies

Founded

1228

Operated by

Evangelisches Damenstift Kloster Medingen (Klosterkammer Hannover)

Director

Dr. Kristin Püttmann (Äbtissin)

Admission & discounts

All prices include the tour.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Mobile ramp in the entrance area and elevator; guests with limitations can take part in all tours.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

By car from Bevenser Straße via Mühlenstraße into Klosterweg.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit