Michaelstein Monastery is located between Blankenburg and Heimburg in the water-rich Klostergrund.
At the beginning of the 12th century, the general chapter of the still young Cistercian order decided that no monasteries could be built in towns, fortified places and villages. This law was also followed here in the Harz Mountains when the monastery dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel was built.
As at the time of its foundation (1146), Michaelstein is still situated away from the urban life of Blankenburg in an idyllic location on the edge of the Harz Mountains. It experienced a long period of economic prosperity in the Middle Ages and its abbots were repeatedly called upon by the popes to carry out ecclesiastical missions. Even back then, fish farming was carried out in the specially created ponds.
The last Catholic abbot resigned in 1543. The Counts of Blankenburg established a monastery school, which continued to exist even after the Dukes of Brunswick took over. At the beginning of the 18th century, Duke Ludwig-Rudolf had extensive building work carried out and established a seminary for preachers.
After the French foreign rule, Michaelstein only had economic functions, which the monastery estate retained under various legal entities even after the so-called land reform.
Today, the Saxony-Anhalt Music Academy for Education and Performance Practice is based here. The monastery offers a rich program of events and is a popular excursion destination on the Romanesque Road.
In 1880, a trout, char and loach farm was set up at the monastery, which is still run privately today. A stop at the „Klosterfischer“ restaurant or the small „Wandergaststätte“ with fish shop is highly recommended.
Parking spaces are available at the monastery, from where you can start the hike through the monastery grounds to the stamp box. The stamp box is located to the right of the dam of the third pond at an information board.
We recommend continuing the hike to HWN 87 Volkmarskeller and experiencing the origins of the Michaelstein monastery in the natural cave there.
