Mariawald Abbey

The origins of Mariawald Monastery date back to 1486, when the first community of monks occupied the newly built monastery. Its foundation stems from a Pietà placed in the forest by a thatched roofer, which became a pilgrimage site. Initially, a wooden chapel was built, later replaced by a wooden church. The Cistercian Order took over the care of the pilgrimage, and in 1480, the church was donated to the order. A stone church replaced the wooden structure from 1494 and was consecrated in 1539. The following hundred years were marked by wars, especially the Thirty Years' War. A period of recovery ended with the French Revolution. In 1795, the monastery was dissolved and its possessions auctioned off. The historic Pietà was transferred to the parish church of Heimbach. In 1861, the monastic estate was acquired by the Trappist Abbey of Oelenberg, and monastic life was resumed. Reconstruction continued until 1891, interrupted by the Franco-Prussian War and the Kulturkampf. In 1909, Mariawald was elevated to an abbey.

Mariawald Monastery is situated in the Düren district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It lies at an elevation of approximately 419 meters above sea level, nestled in the northern Eifel and surrounded by the Eifel National Park, south of and above the small town of Heimbach.

The monks left the monastery in 2018. The association "Kloster Mariawald e.V." has since continued the monastery's operations.

• Hengebach Castle (Castle, approx. 1594 m away)
• Hausen Castle (Castle, approx. 3794 m away)
• Blens Castle (Castle, approx. 4437 m away)
• Vlatten Castle (Castle, approx. 6008 m away)