Neuzelle Abbey

[1] The Abbey was founded as Nova Cella in 1268 by Henry the Illustrious, Margrave of Meissen and Lusatia for the benefit of the soul of his deceased wife Agnes.

It survived during Reformation as a Roman Catholic Abbey in a region were most people followed Martin Luther around 1550.

Neuzelle could even continue when it fell to Saxony as a consequence of the Thirty Years War, since the Emperor reserved certain rights to himself and closely attached the abbey ecclesiastically to Prague.

In 1817, with the Vienna Congress, parts of Lower Lusatia fell to Prussia and were incorporated into the Province of Brandenburg.

Today the complex of Neuzelle Abbey is held by a public foundation run by the state of Brandenburg.

[2][3] Neuzelle is a Baroque style abbey, which is up to this day an oddity in Brandenburg, an area mainly dominated by Gothic churches.

Gothic elements of the original building still can be found in the cloister and enclosure such as cross-ribbed structures, sculptures, corbel decoration and late medieval paintings.

As of 2024 clearing work has started on the historic Stasi-grounds and they are currently building a provisional monastery in Bernhardshof in Treppeln.