Zisterzienserabtei Maulbronn

About the museum

Cistercians from Alsace first settled in Eckenweiher near Mühlacker in 1138. Because the site was poorly suited for a monastery, the monks moved in 1147 to the secluded upper Salzach valley, where they founded the abbey of "Mulenbrunnen," a name referring to a spring and a mill. Donations from Bishop Gunther of Speyer laid the foundation for the monastery's economic rise to a regional center of power.

The abbey church, consecrated while still in the 12th century, and the enclosure were first built in the Romanesque style. In the early 13th century, a builder known as the "Paradise Master" brought early Gothic forms from France to Maulbronn – visible in the "Paradise" porch, the monks' refectory, and the south wing of the cloister. Late Gothic alterations followed in the 14th and 15th centuries, for example to the chapter house, the cloister, and the fountain house. Around the monastery courtyard grew an entire monastic town with farm buildings, walls, and gates.

After Württemberg gained control of the monastery, Duke Ulrich dissolved the monasteries in his territory in 1534 in the course of the Reformation. His son Christoph established a Protestant monastery school in 1556, which gave rise to the Evangelisches Seminar (Protestant Seminary) that still exists today; its pupils included Johannes Kepler, Friedrich Hölderlin, and Hermann Hesse.

Since 1993 Maulbronn has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an exceptionally complete Cistercian complex. The Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg (State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg) manage the monastery, which welcomed nearly 205,000 visitors in 2025, and present its history in several museum areas as well as in an interactive world of discovery for children.

Highlights

• Early Gothic "Paradise" porch in front of the abbey church
• Fountain house with a three-tiered fountain off the cloister
• Refectories of the monks and the lay brothers
• Monastery school where Kepler, Hölderlin, and Hesse studied
• Foundation panel from around 1450 in the monastery museum in the Frühmesserhaus
• Interactive "Junge Klosterwelt" (young monastery world) for children from age 8

Permanent exhibitions

• Klostermuseen – Three museum areas: the Frühmesserhaus with the foundation panel from around 1450 and topics on Cistercian life, the upper floor of the Küferei (cooperage) on the Reformation and the monastery school, and the lapidarium in the cellarium with original stonemasonry.
• Pssst…! Die junge Klosterwelt – Hands-on stations in the former Kameralamt (revenue office), where children aged eight and over explore the daily life of Cistercian monks as novices; only with a guided tour and a reserved time slot.

Founded

1147

Operated by

Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg

Director

Alexandra Müller

Visitors per year

approx. 205,000 (2025)

Admission & discounts

Monastery with standard guided tour or audio guide €13 (reduced €6.50); special tours usually €16 (reduced €8). "Junge Klosterwelt" an additional €5 (reduced €2.50) on top of monastery admission. Annual pass €50. With a valid same-day bwtarif ticket, D-Ticket JugendBW, or Deutschland-Ticket, 10% off non-reduced standard admission. The Schlosscard, Museums-PASS-Musées, and Landesfamilienpass are accepted.

Accessibility

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

According to the monastery administration, accessible with minor restrictions; a dedicated accessibility page with details (paths, restrooms, parking) is not yet available – information by phone. Tours in Leichte Sprache (Easy German) on certain dates; website information in Leichte Sprache and sign language. Assistance dogs permitted; other dogs only on a leash in outdoor areas.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Discovery world "Pssst…! Die junge Klosterwelt" for children from age 8 with hands-on stations (only as a guided tour with registration). Events such as the family tour "Mit der Familie auf Zeitreise im Kloster" (time travel with the family in the monastery), a grandparents-and-grandchildren day, and monastery adventure days.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers

There is no café or restaurant within the monastery itself; the monastery administration refers visitors to restaurants in the area, including the Restaurant Kloster-Katz. Information center with ticket office and shop in the Küferei; lockers for bags, small backpacks, and helmets.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 60 guests.

Listed in the venue database: Eselstall (65 m², banquet up to 35 people) and media room (77 m², up to 60 people in theater seating). The Maulbronn monastery concerts are organized by the Evangelisches Seminar.

Plan your visit