18. Michaelstein Abbey and Abbey Gardens

Michaelstein Abbey was founded as a Cistercian monastery in the 12th century. After the Reformation, the monastery operated as a convent school and a seminary and from the beginning of the 19th century into the 1970s, an agricultural use followed. Around 1977, Michaelstein Abbey became the seat of the Institute for Performance Practice for Music from the 18th century (now the Saxony-Anhalt Music Academy for Education and Performance Practice) and has housed a museum since 1988.

The abbey, which is funded by the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt Culture Foundation), has remained intact as a self-enclosed mediaeval complex. The distinctive features include the completely preserved cloister and the impressive, simple enclosure rooms. Fruit meadows, abbey ponds and corridor names such as Weinberg (vineyard), Gemüsegarten (vegetable garden) and Hopfenkamp (hop field) testify to the one-time use of the former abbey.

The newly created abbey gardens convey impressions of life at the abbey and of the garden architecture of the Middle Ages. With approximately 260 species of historical curative plants and about 100 different varieties of vegetable and field plants, the herb garden and the vegetable garden preserve a mediaeval treasure trove of plants. The centrepoint of the design of the two gardens are plantations and raised beds according to the model of the St. Gallen Abbey plan. Since 2010, there has been an apple path with renowned varieties surrounded by a wild flower meadow. The inner courtyard of the abbey, with a grass surface, rambler roses, a herb plantation and a wayside cross, is also noteworthy. The exhibition “Klostergärten: Entwicklung – Nutzung – Symbolik“ (Abbey Gardens: Development – Use – Symbolism) offers information on garden history and shows connections with medicine, food and fine arts.

The music exhibition “KlangZeitRaum” (SoundTimeSpace) traces the change in sounds and musical instruments over time using instruments from four centuries. All areas of the museum are accessible year-round during the opening times. A wide variety of tours and projects are offered under the motto “KlostERleben” (Abbey Life/Experience Abbey). Michaelstein Abbey offers a rich programme of events and is a popular excursion destination on the Romanesque Road.