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Minster Bad Doberan

Minster Bad Doberan
The Cistercian monastery church from the 13th century has the richest medieval interior of any Cistercian church in Europe. On the "European Route of Brick Gothic" in north-eastern Germany, near the old Hanseatic city of Rostock, lies Bad Doberan Minster, the high Gothic church of the former Cistercian monastery built in the late 13th century. Founded in 1171, the monastery was the first monastery in Mecklenburg and the main burial place of the prince in the Middle Ages. Through its colonization activities, it was of great importance for the cultural and economic development of Mecklenburg and also became a center of Christian faith in the state. The special significance of the monastery was reflected in the construction and furnishings of the Gothic cathedral, which was built in the late 13th century. The interior decoration was largely spared the turmoil of war, iconoclasm and periods of renovation. No other Cistercian monastery church in Europe has preserved a richer original interior. The high altar, the oldest winged altar in art history (around 1300), the monumental rood screen cross altar (around 1360/70) and the tomb sculpture of the Danish Queen Margarete Sambiria (+1282) are noteworthy among the wealth of furnishings.

Bad Doberan Minster - a medieval masterpiece on the Baltic coast

Bad Doberan Minster is one of the most important religious buildings on the German Baltic coast. The high Gothic church of the former Cistercian monastery was built in the late 13th century and is located near the Hanseatic city of Rostock in the heart of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. As part of the European Route of Brick Gothic, it is one of a series of outstanding buildings that also includes Stralsund Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church in Wismar and Greifswald Cathedral.

Richest original furnishings of all Cistercian churches in Europe

What sets Bad Doberan Minster apart from all other Cistercian monastery churches in Europe is the extraordinary completeness of its medieval interior. The turmoil of war, iconoclasm and later renovation phases have largely spared the originals. Particularly noteworthy are the high altar, which is considered the oldest winged altar in art history and was created around 1300, the monumental rood screen cross altar from around 1360/70 and the tomb sculpture of the Danish Queen Margaret Sambiria, who died in 1282.

Historical significance of the Cistercian monastery in Bad Doberan

The monastery was founded in 1171 and was the very first monastery in Mecklenburg. As the main burial place of the prince, it was already of great political and historical importance in the Middle Ages. Through its colonization activities, it had a lasting impact on the cultural and economic development of Mecklenburg and developed into a central place of Christian faith in the region.