Lindow’s history is inextricably linked to that of its monastery. The latter was probably founded around 1230 by the Counts of Arnstein, who also went by the title “Counts of Lindow”. The Reformation came in 1542 and the monastery was converted into a Protestant convent. It was one of the richest monasteries in the Brandenburg Marches up until 1638, when its valuable library and documents were destroyed by imperial troops. The old monastery school survives from this period.
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Today, the former Cistercian monastery on the picturesque Wutzsee belongs to Lafim-Diakonie. The diaconal organization, which also has a Protestant senior citizens' center, service living and day care facilities on the convent grounds, has set itself the goal of further developing the beautiful grounds as a place of encounter and Christian diaconal dialogue. Regular devotions and other cultural events are held on the grounds in the summer.
Fontane described Lindow monastery and its historic cemetery in his novel “Der Stechlin”, where it is called Kloster Wutz. “Lindow is as lovely as its name suggests: it has grown up between three lakes, with old lime trees embracing it in their shade”: these are the words used by Theodor Fontane to express his feelings about this idyllically situated town, which he visited several times. But it was not until the third edition of his Walks through the Brandenburg Marches – The County of Ruppin, published in 1874, that he first mentioned Lindow. The three lakes he describes enthusiastically in his walks are Gudelacksee, Wutzsee and Vielitzsee. His novel Der Stechlin is a monument to the picturesque village of Lindow and its monastery.
Some of the old monastery buildings are still preserved as ruins. The building of the old monastery school dating back to the 15th century is still well preserved, as is the old washhouse. The former monastery is surrounded by a park with the old monastery cemetery with its historic graves of some of the nuns. The grave steles have been restored in recent years with funds provided by the German Foundation for Monument Protection.
The ruins of the monastery building, restored in 2011, are the landmark of the monastery and of Lindow itself.
Destroyed in the Thirty Years’ War, the monastery church is now used as an open-air church for worship and services. In addition, the Garden of the Book was created in 2019 - a Jewish-Christian-Muslim educational and display garden in which many different plant species from the Tanakh, the Bible and the Koran can be discovered. The aim is to draw attention to the similarities between these three religions and to break down prejudices. The accessible labyrinth is barrier-free and the signage is in Braille.
Fontane described Lindow monastery and its historic cemetery in his novel “Der Stechlin”, where it is called Kloster Wutz. “Lindow is as lovely as its name suggests: it has grown up between three lakes, with old lime trees embracing it in their shade”: these are the words used by Theodor Fontane to express his feelings about this idyllically situated town, which he visited several times. But it was not until the third edition of his Walks through the Brandenburg Marches – The County of Ruppin, published in 1874, that he first mentioned Lindow. The three lakes he describes enthusiastically in his walks are Gudelacksee, Wutzsee and Vielitzsee. His novel Der Stechlin is a monument to the picturesque village of Lindow and its monastery.
Some of the old monastery buildings are still preserved as ruins. The building of the old monastery school dating back to the 15th century is still well preserved, as is the old washhouse. The former monastery is surrounded by a park with the old monastery cemetery with its historic graves of some of the nuns. The grave steles have been restored in recent years with funds provided by the German Foundation for Monument Protection.
The ruins of the monastery building, restored in 2011, are the landmark of the monastery and of Lindow itself.
Destroyed in the Thirty Years’ War, the monastery church is now used as an open-air church for worship and services. In addition, the Garden of the Book was created in 2019 - a Jewish-Christian-Muslim educational and display garden in which many different plant species from the Tanakh, the Bible and the Koran can be discovered. The aim is to draw attention to the similarities between these three religions and to break down prejudices. The accessible labyrinth is barrier-free and the signage is in Braille.
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