Stiftsmuseum und alte Zisterzienserinnen-Kirche
Former Cistercian convent in the forest near Berge, with an early Gothic brick church and a foundation museum; visits only with a guided tour.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Around 1250/51, Cistercian nuns moved from Rosenthal to the present site in the forest north of Berge. A nearby stream supplied water and drove a mill, and the surrounding woods offered grazing for pigs; the convent could largely supply itself.
The centrepiece is the church of St. Mary, built in the 13th century in North German brick Gothic, with a lower and an upper church, a raised choir and a nuns' gallery. In addition there are the medieval convent buildings with a cloister, a stone granary from the founding period and a half-timbered house from 1881.
After the Peace of Westphalia, Börstel became a Protestant ladies' foundation, in which two chapter places were reserved for Catholic women. Today it is a self-administered, ecumenical foundation with a chapter led by an abbess. The foundation hosts concerts, lectures and retreats; it offers the programme 'Kloster auf Zeit' ('convent for a time') as well as a conference and guest house. The foundation museum gives insight into the history of the place and is included in the tours.
Highlights
- Early Gothic brick church St. Mary with nuns' gallery
- Medieval convent buildings with a cloister
- Stone granary from the founding period
- Foundation museum on the history of the place
- Quiet location in the forest
- Operated by
- Stift Börstel (Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Students with ID |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 7 · Children up to age 7 free. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Students, participants in voluntary ecological or social years (FÖJ/FSJ), and volunteers |
| Groups (11+ people) | €6 per person11–20 people €6; from 21 people (max. 40) €4 per person |
| Children's tour (from 10 children, per child) | €2 |
| Lantern tour (per person) | €10 |
Prices per person for a standard tour: 1–10 people €8 (price level June 2022).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 7 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Children's tours for groups of 10 or more children.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
From the car park it is a walk to the site; motorhome pitches are available.
The foundation lies in a wooded setting on the Berge–Herzlake road, on the northern edge of the Osnabrück district.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Refreshments at the Alte Stifts-Schänke, a half-timbered house about 200 m away (Tel. +49 5435 9549833).
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Conference and guest house for conferences, celebrations and school trips.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Standard tours last 1 to 1.5 hours; themed, children's and lantern tours on request. Booking at +49 5435 9542-0 (Mon–Fri 08:00–12:00) or info@stift-boerstel.de. Viewing the church without a tour is only possible in exceptional cases by arrangement. |
