The monastery of Ihlow

The year 1228 is considered to be the founding date of the monastery in Ihlow. Members of the Cistercian order set up their “Monasterium Sanctae Mariae in Schola Deï“ in a forest eight kilometers south of the settlement of Aurechove. The dimensions of the church in its „School of God“ were enormous: almost 68 meters long and around 35 meters wide in its transept. At that time the sacred building in the style of the Brick Gothic is the largest church between Bremen and Groningen.

In 1529 the Ihlow monastery was dissolved during the Reformation and the church was destroyed. At last, the remaining buildings, which have been used as a stately hunting estate since then, are torn down in the 18th century. A hunting lodge for the East Frisian rulers is being built on the monastery site.

The monastery webcam

 

Your stay in Ihlow

Would you like to combine your visit to the "Stille Räume Ihlow" monastery with a holiday in East Frisia? The tourist information office will be happy to provide you with information about the various overnight accommodations in the municipality of Ihlow.

The guest house "Am Ihler Meer" is about 2 kilometers from the monastery and is a popular and inexpensive accommodation for families, pilgrims, cyclists and groups of children and young people. More info at: www.ihlow-tourismus.de

Information is available from: +49 4929-89100 and by email to: touristik (at) ihlow.de

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The monastery café

In the monastery café, walkers, visitors to the monastery, families and groups will find a beautifully situated place in the Ihlow forest for a break.

Use the opportunity for a leisurely hour with a cup of East Frisian tea and a piece of the by now legendary home-baked cakes or pies in a cosy atmosphere.

Visit the monastery café

The monastery shop

A lovely monastery shop was set up in the historic forester's house with great dedication and attention to detail. Furnished with cupboards and shelves from an old pharmacy, it offers - in addition to initial information about the monastery - monastic products and handicrafts from the region.

From Tuesday to Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. you can browse to your heart's content. The corona-related opening times can be found on this website under "Aktuelles".

Visit the monastery shop

The room of the search for clues

Below the replicated vault ensemble of the former monastery church lies the room of the search for clues. There is a new altar and an exhibition on the history of the Cistercian order on the North and Baltic Seas, as well as on the archaeology and history of the Ihlow monastery.

At the foundation level, visitors can experience the historical and spiritual dimensions of the former abbey and today's monastery.

A search for clues

The monastery garden

The current monastery garden at the monastery site was laid out in 1987. However, it was soon forgotten.

In 2001 some members of the monastery association partnered with colleagues from the Hermann-Tempel comprehensive School and founded the group of "monastery garden women" to bring the monastery garden to its full bloom again.

Visit the monastery garden

The scriptorium

"Writing like a monk" is offered on the monthly experience Sundays. The dates can be found in the calendar of events on the home page. Groups and schools are also welcome to register for an appointment: 04929-89103, or bruhr(at)ihlow.de.

Visit the scriptorium

Gemeinde Ihlow