Grünau Charterhouse

Grünau Charterhouse (German: Kloster or Kartause Grünau) is a former Carthusian monastery located in Schollbrunn, Bavaria, Germany. It holds the distinction of being the first Carthusian monastery established in the Franconia region and within what is now modern-day Bavaria, marking a significant early presence for the order in the area.

History and Significance

The monastery's origins trace back to 1216 with the consecration of a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Lawrence, and Saint Nicholas. By the early 14th century, this chapel had become a notable pilgrimage site. In 1328, Elisabeth von Hohenlohe, daughter of the Count of Wertheim, donated the land for the establishment of a charterhouse. The first Carthusians, led by Prior Heinrich Spiegel, settled here in 1333, officially founding the monastery.

Initially a smaller structure, the Kartause was replaced by a larger building in the early 15th century, capable of housing up to 24 monks. The church, consecrated in 1446, also served as the burial place for the Counts of Wertheim, who held the position of Vögte (protectors or administrators) of the monastery. Historical records suggest that monks from Grünau may have also settled at other charterhouses, such as Erfurt and Koblenz, during the 14th century.

The monastery faced considerable turmoil. A canonical visitation in 1523 revealed issues leading to the temporary dismissal of its prior. During the German Peasants' War in 1525, the monastery was sacked. The subsequent embrace of the Reformation by Count Georg von Wertheim, the monastery's Vogt, and the Wertheim family's assumption of land administration in 1545, led to the departure of the last three monks in 1557.

Despite these challenges, the Carthusian order engaged in a lengthy legal dispute to regain possession of the charterhouse. An Imperial edict in 1629 finally restored the property to Catholic ownership. However, the monastery's reprieve was short-lived, as it was forced to flee from Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War just two years later. In 1635, Count Johann Dietrich von Löwenstein-Wertheim undertook the restoration of the buildings and half of the original land, allowing four monks to return.

The monastery was ultimately dissolved in 1803 as part of the secularization of Bavaria, with its property reverting to the Counts of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg. The buildings, which had been reconstructed by the monks in the early 18th century, were converted into a Hofgut (an estate owned by the Counts) in 1820.

Grünau Today

Today, only a few remnants of the original monastic complex endure. These include the prior's lodging, which is now utilized for guests, the discernible ruins of the church, and the enclosing perimeter wall complete with its archway. The existing structures now house a restaurant and are privately owned. While the property is private, the external areas are largely accessible to the public during the restaurant's operating hours.