Reinfeld Abbey

Reinfeld Abbey (German: Kloster Reinfeld) was a significant Cistercian monastery situated in Reinfeld, near Bad Oldesloe in the present-day German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Its history is marked by its challenging foundation, periods of prosperity, and eventual dissolution.

History and Significance

The monastery was established in 1186 by monks originating from the Cistercian abbey of Loccum. Adolf III, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein, granted them a site that was deliberately chosen for its wild and desolate nature. The foundation charter describes the location as a "locus horroris" (place of horror), referencing its marshy depressions along the Heilsau valley. This challenging environment, however, did not deter the dedicated community of an abbot and twelve monks.

During their efforts to clear and drain the land, the monks ingeniously created numerous ponds, which became a vital resource for fish farming, particularly carp. These ponds, some of which still exist today, were a testament to their agricultural and engineering skills. Over time, Reinfeld Abbey flourished, accumulating considerable estates and fostering a close relationship with the influential city of Lübeck, even being granted its own gate within the city walls.

The advent of the Reformation brought an abrupt end to the abbey's peaceful existence. In 1534, the citizens of Lübeck stormed and burned the monastery. Although it was subsequently rebuilt, its resurgence was short-lived. In 1582, Reinfeld Abbey was dissolved, its assets were confiscated by the King of Denmark, and the monastic buildings were demolished. Following the abbey's demise, the site was later used for the construction of a castle, which was itself dismantled in 1775, with its stone repurposed for other constructions. Today, the primary remnants of the historical Reinfeld Abbey are its enduring fishponds and portions of its original precinct wall.