ZisterzienserMuseum Kloster Walkenried

About the museum

Kloster Walkenried was founded in 1127 by Adelheid von Walkenried and was the third Cistercian foundation on what is now German soil. The first community came in 1129 from Kamp Abbey on the Lower Rhine. From here grew a far-reaching business enterprise with farms, mining and smelting in the Harz, and daughter monasteries, which made the monks one of the most important landowners in northern Germany.

The Gothic monastery church, one of the largest churches in northern Germany, was consecrated in 1290; by around 1330 the cloister with its walkway, chapter house and monks' quarters was complete. The north wing of the cloister walk, with its double aisle, where the monks read, is especially well known. After economic crises in the 14th and 15th centuries and the German Peasants' War of 1525, the monastery was abandoned during the Reformation and put to other uses; only a ruin of the church remained.

Today the ZisterzienserMuseum uses modern staging, listening stations and media in the preserved cloister buildings to tell of the monks' daily life, their faith and their successful economic activity. The monastery belongs to the Harz UNESCO World Heritage Site; across the way, in the Welterbe-Infozentrum, a free exhibition informs visitors about the region.

Highlights

• Fully preserved Gothic cloister from the 13th/14th century
• Double-aisled cloister walk with architectural decoration
• Permanent exhibition "Heute im Mittelalter" on the life and economy of the Cistercians
• Ruin of the Gothic monastery church
• Audio guide for children and adults, monastery rally and monks' robes to try on
• Free Welterbe-Infozentrum directly opposite

Permanent exhibition

• Heute im Mittelalter – Mittelalterliche Klöster – Staged permanent exhibition in the preserved cloister on the daily life, faith and economy of the Cistercians, with parallels to the present day.

Operated by

Stiftung Welterbe im Harz

Admission & discounts

The reductions cannot be combined. The HarzCard is accepted. Anyone who visits another participating site in the Harz UNESCO World Heritage Site within three days receives 10% off admission and guided tour. The Welterbe-Infozentrum is free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The cloister, adjoining rooms and the part of the exhibition on the ground floor are reachable at ground level; the exhibition on the upper floor has no elevator, and the route leads via stairs, uneven surfaces and thresholds. The museum building has no accessible toilet, but during opening hours the one in the Welterbe-Infozentrum across the way is available. Benches and folding chairs to take along for all areas. The tour "Stippvisite im Haus der Zisterzienser" is largely stair-free. Only assistance dogs are permitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's audio guide, KlosterRallye with the monk Conrad, and monks' robes to try on, without registration. Family tour "Kleine Mönche auf Zeit" for ages 5 to 10 during school holidays, torch-lit tours, workshops and children's birthday parties by registration. Strollers can be left at the visitor service; changing table in the women's restroom.

Getting there & parking

Navigation coordinates of the visitor car park: 51.581924, 10.620432.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

KlosterCafé with garden seating (Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–17:00); the refectory is available for groups of up to 80 people. Museum shop with literature, souvenirs and products from monasteries. Eating and drinking are prohibited in the monastery area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Available for rent are the heated double-aisled cloister, the unheated Brüdersaal and the Zaubersaal, usually outside museum opening hours. For reasons of historic preservation, catering is not possible in the cloister. Dates and prices by arrangement.

Plan your visit