Zehdenick Abbey

The circumstances leading to the foundation of the abbey are described in a legend transmitted by the märkische chronicler Andreas Angelus, according to which Zehdenick became a place of pilgrimage after a "miracle of the host" took place there in 1249: a woman innkeeper is said to have buried a consecrated host beneath her beer barrel in the cellar in order to obtain God's help in increasing the beer consumption of her guests.

[1] The Margraves of Brandenburg Otto III and Johann I and their sister Matilda of Brandenburg, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg, founded the abbey partly, to be sure, on account of the increasing number of pilgrims, but doubtless largely also from strategic considerations regarding the establishment of the power of the Ascanians in their recently acquired territory of the Uckermark.

Like many other Cistercian houses Zehdenick became wealthy and by the time of the Reformation possessed 16 villages, with interests in another two, forests, and fishery rights in 13 lakes and a river, presumably the Havel.

In 1541, when the Reformation reached Mark Brandenburg, the abbey became a secular college for noblewomen (Adlige Frauenstift), which ladies entered without making any religious profession.

All that now remain are the external walls of the dormitory, the north and west wings, parts of the cloister and of the so-called "abbey barn", which was originally the infirmary, the school and the pilgrims' lodging.