Haina Monastery

With its closed medieval construction, Haina Monastery is an absolute highlight on the Kellerwaldsteig (and of course elsewhere too 😄).
I was impressed by the size of the buildings, even if the church looks a bit empty. The architecture naturally comes into its own.

The old Cistercian abbey in the Kellerwald is one of the best preserved and most historically significant medieval monastery complexes in Germany. The early Gothic hall church, the idyllic cloister, the cloister rooms and the gardens are absolutely worth seeing.

Unfortunately, you cannot visit them in the winter months. The historical monastery complex cannot be heated and there is no electric light in the church. But during the rest of the year you can explore the complex and visit the little monastery shop.

Founded at the beginning of the 13th century by the Cistercians, secularized in 1527 by Phillip, Landgrave of Hesse, the generous, converted into one of 4 Hessian hospitals to care for the poor rural population. 1927 conversion to psychiatry. Aiding the Nazi euthanasia murders by moving inmates to the killing facilities. Sisterhood disagreed. A leader managed to save 250 inmates by declaring them to be irreplaceable, necessary labor.