Mariengarden Monastery

The Mariengarde Monastery can look back on a history of almost 800 years. The Gothic St. Mary's Church belonging to the monastery dates back to the Middle Ages. The oldest part is the east choir. The Oblate order has lived here for almost 100 years. The grammar school, which belongs to the monastery, is run by the order. School life is manageable and familiar with around 800 pupils.

Around 1220, a small chapel is built in Groß-Burlo. In 1245, Wilhemite brothers take over the prayer cities. They gradually build a proper monastery, which also provides pastoral care for the surrounding population. The name "Mariengarden" appears in the documents for the first time in 1398. 50 years later, the Wilhelmites join the Cistercians.

Due to the Anabaptist movement and wars, monastic life almost came to a standstill. In the 17th century the monastery experienced a new flowering. In 1718 the monastery was completed in its present form. In the course of secularisation, the monastery was dissolved in 1803. In 1920, during a mission to the people in Antholt, the Oblates were made aware of the old monastery building, which was owned by Prince Alfred zu Salm-Salm. He is prepared to lease the monastery to the Oblates. After lengthy and extensive renovation work, the first German Juniorate was built, which received state recognition as a public school in 1924. At first, it was above all the supply of food for the juniorists and the community that caused great concern, even though they had set up their own farm. During the inflationary period, they even turned to neighbouring Holland, from where they actually received 1200 hundredweight of food. In 1939, the junior seminary was closed, but the monastery remained in the hands of the Oblates on a limited basis. After the war, the military government granted permission to reopen the mission school. At the beginning of the 1950s, Mariengarden is elevated to a progymnasium. From now on, the Fathers also receive a qualified education equal to that of secular councillors of studies. At the end of the 1960s, the Progymnasium becomes a full grammar school. In 1972, the first graduates attain the university entrance qualification.

The monastery can only be visited from the outside.