Neukirchen Abbey

The Neukirchen beim Heiligen Blut Monastery is a monastery of the Franciscan Reformists in Neukirchen beim Heiligen Blut in Bavaria, in the Diocese of Regensburg.

The monastery, dedicated to St. Catherine, was founded in 1656 by the Bavarian Reformist Province of the Franciscans at the site of one of Bavaria's most significant Marian pilgrimages. It was initially a hospice, becoming a convent in 1661. It was not dissolved during the secularization; instead, the monastery was established as a central monastery in 1802. In 1855, the monastery was officially re-established. In 2000, the long-unused north wing of the monastery was converted into the "Cross-border Pilgrimage, Encounter, and Environmental Education Center at the Franciscan Monastery Neukirchen b.Hl.Blut." However, the common name for this center is "Haus zur Aussaat" (House of Sowing). Since then, the "Trägerverein für das grenzüberschreitenden Wallfahrts- und Begegnungszentrums Neukirchen b.Hl.Blut e.V." (Sponsoring Association for the Cross-border Pilgrimage and Encounter Center Neukirchen b.Hl.Blut e.V.) has been responsible for this area, under the chairmanship of Father Raymund, Guardian of the Franciscan Monastery.

In 2008, the monastery garden, which had previously been inaccessible to the public, was extensively redesigned and opened as the "Franciscan Monastery Garden." The monastery garden (1.6 ha) adjoins the "Haus zur Aussaat." The theme of "Preservation of Creation" (environmental protection) is vividly illustrated in various ways in this garden: Biblical plants thrive here, as do medicinal plants in the apothecary garden.

A visit is only possible with a guided tour.