Maulbronn Monastery Complex, Germany

On our way to Stuttgart we planned to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Maulbronn Monastery Complex.  Jordan just finished reading Pillars of the Earth and was on somewhat of a Monastery complex high, so we wanted to see one in real life. There are plenty of Monasteries sprinkled throughout Germany, but this area is a hidden gem-not crowded and well preserved.  Within the fortified walls is the information center where we got our portable audioguides for a minimal fee-it is really great because the guide takes you around the little center of town and explained what the buildings were used for between the 12th and 16th centuries.  Seriously how charming is this town?!?

While in the medieval times these buildings were used for food storage and administrative monastery purposes today they serve as the town hall, a restaurant, a pharmacy, a bakery, a book shop and much more.

It was a little rainy, but still loving it!

Now this is what we came to see, the Maulbronn Monastery. Founded in 1147 it is considered the most complete and best preserved medieval monastic complex north of the Alps.

There are so many architectural styles-from Romanesque to late Gothic all in one place.  

Back in the day Maulbronn housed two groups of people-better said, two groups of men: monks and lay brothers. The monks prayed, and the lay brothers worked different jobs like cooks, craftsmen, and on the land.  It was a separate but equal arrangement, and in the church the two groups of men had their respective choirs separated by a wall.  

 Amazing woodwork:

As we walked around the grounds we learned that the monks invented the Swambian dish "Maultaschen", which is similar to ravioli.  The story is told that: the monks ate grains, vegetables and fish, but no meat.  One day, around lent, the cook was given some meat as payment, and what did he do?  There were no freezers, and meat was a delicacy so he miced the meat, mixed it with vegetables herbs and spices, and then hid it all in square pieces of pasta dough pressed around the edges-hidden from the sight of God.  Wuala, the classic dish was born.

In the late 16th century after the area was conquered by Protestants the monks were forced to leave and the monastery was converted into a seminary boarding school for boys.  It is still a boarding school today, we got lost wondering around and found ourselves in the school, but now girls are allowed.  There is still old graffiti carved into the stones from students who were said to show excellent academic honors.

I'm sensing a little reminder of Harry Potter...

Such a beautiful place, we wouldn't suggest missing Maulbronn!