Loccum Abbey

Loccum Abbey (Kloster Loccum) is a former Cistercian monastery located in the town of Rehburg-Loccum in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It was founded in 1163 by Cistercian monks from the Volkenroda Abbey. The abbey is situated near the Steinhuder Meer, a large lake in the region.

Yes, remarkably, Loccum Abbey is one of the very few former Cistercian houses that has operated continuously since the Middle Ages, surviving the Reformation. It transitioned into a Protestant Lutheran monastery in the 16th century and remains active today. The abbey functions as a prominent conference center and retreat for the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover.

Loccum Abbey is highly celebrated for its incredibly well-preserved Romanesque and early Gothic brick architecture. The site features a massive, austere basilica, a beautiful Romanesque cloister, and an original medieval fountain house. Because it was never fully destroyed, it remains one of the most complete medieval monastery complexes in Germany.

Yes, the grounds, cloisters, and the magnificent abbey church are open to the public for tours and quiet reflection. The abbey regularly hosts cultural events, concerts, and educational seminars within its historic walls. Visitors can also explore the surrounding historical agricultural buildings that once sustained the medieval monks.