Neuzelle Cistercian Abbey

In 1268 Margrave Heinrich von Meißen donated the Neuzelle monastery. In the 15th century the abbey was repeatedly destroyed by Hussites and was rebuilt around 1500. Belonging to Lower Lusatia and thus to the Kingdom of Bohemia and, since 1635, to Saxony, mainly brought monks from Bohemia to Neuzelle, who in the 17th and 18th centuries initiated the Baroque redesign and expansion of the complex. The monastery was dissolved in 1817 when Lower Lusatia was taken over by Prussia. The possessions were transferred to a Prussian monastery in Neuzelle. The monastery buildings have been used for educational and administrative purposes since 1820, the monastery churches serve as parish churches.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the monastery complex was converted into a representative baroque ensemble. The enclosure, the church and the office building with the "prince's wing" border the collegiate square in the north, to the west of which runs the arcade corridor with entrance portal and collegiate chancellery. To the south are the "Kutschstallgebäude" and to the east is the monastery garden. The collegiate church and the "people's church", both in the style of the South German Bohemian Baroque, stood for the new size of the monastery in the 18th century. Late Gothic elements of the original building can still be found in the enclosure rooms and the cloister.

The monastery is situated on the eastern edge of the Lieberos plateau in the historical border region between Lower Lusatia and Brandenburg. To the west of the town lies the glacial Schlaubetal, to the north lies Eisenhüttenstadt.

With its magnificent churches, monastery gardens, cloister and art treasures, Neuzelle is one of the greatest baroque monuments in eastern and northern Germany. Culinary and music lovers also get their money's worth here: brandy and beer are produced and the festival "Oper Oder-Spree" revives the complex every year with music theatre weeks.

Two museums, among them the "Himmlische Theater" with its unique baroque Passion performances, inspire culture fans.