Riddagshausen Abbey

It was founded as Marienzelle by Ludolf the Wend, a ministerialis of Henry the Lion and steward of Brunswick, and settled in 1145 by monks from Amelungsborn Abbey.

Henry endowed the new foundation in 1146 with the neighbouring village of Riddagshausen, from which it took its name.

[1] From 1690 it was also the home of a prestigious Lutheran seminary for training of preachers, the first in Germany.

[2][3] The site, now included within the city of Brunswick, in the district of Wabe-Schunter-Beberbach, is now mostly a nature reserve[4] and arboretum.

[7] The surviving buildings include the abbey church[8] and the gatehouse, now home of the Cistercian Museum.