Dobbertin Abbey
Encyclopedia
Dobbertin Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery, afterwards a nunnery and later still a women's collegiate foundation, located in the municipality of Dobbertin
near Goldberg
in the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim
in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
. It stands on a spit of land in the Dobbertiner See
and includes the only church with two towers in Mecklenburg
.
and was the first field monastery in Mecklenburg. The founder gave it to the Benedictines for a community of monks. 15 years later it was turned into a Benedictine nunnery.
In 1549 the Landtag
at Sagsdorf Bridge near Sternberg
resolved to introduce the Protestant Reformation
into Mecklenburg. Despite violent resistance the abbey was secularised and in 1572 converted into a Lutheran
collegiate foundation for noblewomen (Damenstift).
In the middle of the 19th century the church was restored by Georg Adolf Demmler to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel
. The work was completed in 1857.
In 1918 the abbey premises became the property of the state and were converted into a youth hostel. After World War II
Soviet troops were stationed here, and destroyed much of historical interest.
Since 1991 the grounds, buildings and church have been refurbished, with help from the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
and the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt. The abbey is a protected historical monument.
Dobbertin
Dobbertin is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. An important sight is Dobbertin Abbey. The municipality is situated in a landscape with many lakes and woods. It stands on the largest lake in the area, the Dobbertiner See....
near Goldberg
Goldberg, Germany
Goldberg is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 24 km northeast of Parchim, and 46 km east of Schwerin....
in the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim
Ludwigslust-Parchim
Ludwigslust-Parchim is a district in the west of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is bounded by the state Schleswig-Holstein, the district Nordwestmecklenburg, the district-free city Schwerin, the districts Rostock and Mecklenburgische Seenplatte and the states Brandenburg and Lower Saxony...
in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It stands on a spit of land in the Dobbertiner See
Dobbertiner See
The Dobbertiner See is a lake within the Sternberger Seenlandschaft in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated immediately to the south of the municipality of Dobbertin, and is about northwest of Berlin....
and includes the only church with two towers in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
.
History
The abbey was founded during the Christianisation of Germany in about 1220 by Prince Heinrich Borwin II of MecklenburgHouse of Mecklenburg
The House of Mecklenburg is a North German dynasty of West Slavic origin that ruled until 1918.- Origins :Niklot was a lord of the Wendish tribe of Obotrites. When the Holy Roman Empire expanded eastwards, notably to the coast of Baltic in 13th century, a portion of Obotrite lords allied with...
and was the first field monastery in Mecklenburg. The founder gave it to the Benedictines for a community of monks. 15 years later it was turned into a Benedictine nunnery.
In 1549 the Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
at Sagsdorf Bridge near Sternberg
Sternberg
Sternberg is surname of:- Persons :* Counts of Sternberg, Bohemian nobility* Ben-Zion Sternberg , a Zionist statesman* Charles Hazelius Sternberg , an American paleontologist...
resolved to introduce the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
into Mecklenburg. Despite violent resistance the abbey was secularised and in 1572 converted into a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
collegiate foundation for noblewomen (Damenstift).
In the middle of the 19th century the church was restored by Georg Adolf Demmler to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
. The work was completed in 1857.
In 1918 the abbey premises became the property of the state and were converted into a youth hostel. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Soviet troops were stationed here, and destroyed much of historical interest.
Present use
From 1947 to 1991 the buildings were used as an old people's residential and care home. Then they were transferred to the responsibility of the charitable organisation of the German Evangelical Church (the Diakonisches Werk der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland e. V, or Diakoniewerk for short), who set up a care home for the severely physically handicapped. Workshops for the handicapped are still located here. It is possible to visit them, to take part in tours and to buy items made by the patients. There is also a café with a view over the Dobbertiner See, and regular concerts are held. The former abbey also offers help for the aged, and counselling on debt and addiction.Since 1991 the grounds, buildings and church have been refurbished, with help from the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
The Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz is a German private initiative founded in 1985 which works for the preservation of cultural heritage in Germany and to promote the idea of cultural heritage management....
and the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt. The abbey is a protected historical monument.