Maulbronn Monastery Complex

In 1147, and over a period of approximately 400 years, the monks of Maulbronn used local sandstone to construct a remarkable monastery, which became a distinguishing feature of the surrounding landscape. They also developed a sophisticated aquatic network around the monastery with trenches, lakes and ponds in order to farm fish. The vineyards they established are still producing grapes today. The former Maulbronn Abbey is not only the best surviving example of a medieval monastery complex north of the Alps, it is also a particularly representative piece of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Even the window tracery in the cloister has maintained the seemingly limitless forms of expression of stonemasons' art. The excellent state of preservation and integrity of in the complex give visitors a practically unspoilt impression of medieval monastery life. The Romanesque monastery church, a triple-naved basilica, is the oldest building in the complex. Its fittings include richly decorated oak choir stalls which can hold 92 monks. The monastery courtyard is today still surrounded by the imposing living quarters and outbuildings, towers and a fortified wall approximately one kilometre long. Duke Christoph of Württemberg, the son of Ulrich, set up a Protestant monastery school in Maulbronn in 1556. This boarding school was attended by some well-known people including Johannes Kepler, Friedrich Hölderlin and Hermann Hesse, and has now become a grammar school specialising in classical languages.