Maria Laach Abbey

The abbey was founded in 1093 by Count Palatine Heinrich II of Laach and his wife Adelheid of Weimar-Orlamünde, who thereby created a burial place for themselves as they remained childless. The first monks came from St. Maximin Abbey near Trier. After the death of the founder in 1095 and his wife in 1100, construction work was initially interrupted, but resumed in 1112 by Heinrich's heir, Count Palatine Siegfried of Ballenstedt. He donated the monastery to Affligem Abbey. From 1127, Giselbert of Affligem led the monastery, which was elevated to an independent abbey in 1138. The consecration of the crypt, nave, and west choir took place in 1156. Under Abbots Albert and Gregor, the west building was completed by 1216, and between 1220 and 1230, the Nikolauskapelle and the unique 'Paradies', a columned vestibule, were added to the west facade. In the 15th century, the abbey joined the Bursfelde Congregation and evolved into a center of humanism in the 16th century. In the late 17th and 18th centuries, the complex underwent Baroque alterations. In the course of secularization, Maria Laach Abbey was dissolved by the French administration in 1802.

Maria Laach Abbey is located in Glees in the Ahrweiler district, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, at an elevation of approx. 298 m above sea level.

Today, Maria Laach Abbey continues to operate as an active monastery. Visitors can explore the impressive abbey church and its surrounding facilities.

• Burghaus Wassenach (castle), approx. 4.1 km away
• Schloss Burgbrohl (palace), approx. 6.2 km away
• Burg Krayerhof (castle), approx. 6.5 km away
• Schloss Bürresheim (palace), approx. 7.5 km away