Maria Engelport Monastery

Maria Engelport Monastery lies in the sleepy valley of the Flaumbach, a tributary valley of the Mosel. It was founded three times during its history. The original foundation took place in 1220. According to the legend appeared to knight Emelrikus of Monreal, he lived near Treis-Karden in Fankel, two angels with burning candles and jingling bells as he was out hunting. At this place he built a church and a convent. Cistercians of the convent Klosterkumpd near Simmern were appointed to Engelport. Because of the bad living conditions, they soon moved back to their old convent.

The monastery was re-established in 1265. Count Philipp II. of Wildenburg near Treis founded the new convent. Premonstratensians which were under the control of abbey Steinfeld in the Eifel, moved in. In the Thirty Year’s War it was plundered and destroyed several times. In the year 1648 it was rebuilt. But in 1794 it was destroyed in the French revolutionary war. The nuns had to flee and were not able to come back. The majority of the building was torn down. Inside the present courtyard is reminiscent of the old church and the enclosure wall of the old convent.

Thanks to the efforts of reverend Haubrich of Pommern, the “Oblaten der Makellosen Jungfrau Maria” built the present monastery Maria Engelport on the old site in 1903. The government attached conditions to the permission of the rebuilding. Therefore the new monastery became a colonial school for the education of missionaries for the former German colony in South West Africa, today known as Namibia.

References:

• mosel-islands.de

Address

Flaumbachtal 4, Treis, Germany

Details

Founded: 1220/1903
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Hohenstaufen Dynasty (Germany)