Frozen in
time, Engelthal Abbey lies in the Wetterau region of Hesse. Formerly a
Cistercian monastery, it had been home since 1962 to Benedictine nuns
who managed and lovingly tended the abbey, the shop, a guesthouse, the
gardens, and the fields. Yet the community is fading away, and the abbey
with it. Only twelve nuns remained in the end; with no new vocations
and the sisters advancing in age, they no longer felt able to manage the
grounds. They are currently moving to a new, smaller convent in Bingen,
while the Diocese of Mainz develops a plan for the site's future use.
The grounds—with the exception of the cloistered areas—remain open to
visitors, though the guesthouse and shop are permanently closed. Mass is
still celebrated in the church, however. The remaining public area is
still a beautiful, peaceful place that radiates tranquility, lingering
in a state of melancholy somewhere between its vibrant past and its
current reality.
(Engelthal Abbey, Altenstadt, Wetterau, Germany, June
14th, 2026)
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