St. Marienthal Abbey

St. Marienthal Abbey (Kloster St. Marienthal) in Ostritz is described as the oldest continuously existing Cistercian nunnery in Germany. It stands on the Lusatian Neisse river right on the Polish border in Upper Lusatia, east of Dresden. The Baroque complex with its church, monastery garden, shop and inn is a rewarding stop for history, architecture and quiet-getaway fans.

Where it is and how to get there

Ostritz lies in Saxony near the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic. The abbey's address is St. Marienthal 1, 02899 Ostritz. By car, a few spaces are directly at the Klosterschenke inn and a larger car park is a short walk across the road. Buses can use the public lots above the abbey on the B 99. Our sources do not name a specific train or bus connection to Ostritz, so use the Deutsche Bahn journey planner.

What makes it special

Tradition dates the foundation to October 14, 1234. Hussite forces destroyed the abbey in 1427, and Baroque rebuilding began in 1685. The nuns were driven out in 1707 during the Great Northern War. Floods damaged the Baroque interior in 1897 and in 2010. Ten sisters lived in the convent in 2021 and the abbey also runs an international meeting center. The grounds include a garden with more than 40 biblical plant species.

What to see and do

• The Baroque abbey church and courtyard.
• The garden of biblical plants.
• The Klostermarkt shop with baked goods, handicrafts, abbey beer and liqueur.
• A short information presentation in the former brewery building, in German and English, with a donation requested.
• The Klosterschenke inn.

A one-hour guided tour with a sister costs EUR 6 per person (EUR 8 from 2027) and requires a minimum of 10 people or a flat fee of EUR 60 for smaller groups. English tours are available on request and reservations are required. An audio guide costs EUR 4.99.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• Klostermarkt (March 1 to October 31, 2026): Monday to Thursday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m., Friday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday and holidays 1 to 4 p.m.
• Klosterschenke: Wednesday to Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday.
• Church: The abbey publishes a service schedule but no fixed visitor hours.

Practical tips

Allow one to two hours. We found no information on accessibility or dogs, so phone the abbey at +49 35823 856300. Payment is in euros.