Reifenstein Abbey

It was founded on 1 August 1162 by Count Ernst of Tonna-Gleichen, on a site then known as Albolderode, and was settled by monks from Volkenroda Abbey near Mühlhausen.

[1] The abbey was economically successful and by the end of the thirteenth century had acquired about fifty estates in the neighbourhood.

He preached rebellion in his native town of Mühlhausen, shared the leadership in the German Peasants' War in Thuringia with Thomas Münzer, and in May 1525, burnt Reifenstein Abbey to the ground.

In 1575 there was again a single monk, and in 1579, five or six, but they led so lawless a life that Reifenstein, according to a contemporary report, resembled a robbers' cave.

Brigitte Albert (later Kay) wrote of her time there in 1942-43:[3] The large monastic buildings formed a solid three-storey unit containing two inner courtyards.

When Bismarck appropriated the monasteries for the State of Prussia,[4] one wing was set aside to administer the rich outlying farmlands.

Our ages were eighteen and above; we were all in uniform; in the evenings after the last chorale we walked past a long line of teachers, curtseying to each and kissing hands with the Principal.

We had a very large poultry farm which was run on commercial lines and supplied us at a time of miserable rationing with eggs and chickens.

As they ran free in the grounds and birds of prey frequently attacked our chicks, we were anxious that the gander should protect the goose with the large brood.

Several girls had been boarders at the Luisenstiftung in Berlin where their chaplain was Pastor Bonhoeffer, who represented the Bekenntniskirche.

The Catholic Archbishop, Count von Hagen,[5] was in such a strong position that in spite of his courageous teaching the Nazis did not dare to touch him.

My greatest pleasure was in the ample time I could spend on my music and on enjoying our beautiful surroundings on long walks with Deta.

I was also allowed to practise in the Principal's room which formed part of the cloisters and had lovely acoustics.

She further wrote: Early in the new year (1943) the fire alarm sounded, calling us all from garden, stables and kitchen to the large common-room.

In front of the building stood three large, black Mercedes cars which could only mean that Party officials had arrived...

State ownership lasted until after World War II, when in 1951 the site was acquired by the University of Jena for use as a special clinic for tubercular and bone diseases.