Abbey Rühn

The Rühn Monastery was founded in 1232 by Lords Nicolaus I of Werle and Heinrich Borwin III of Rostock, who provided land to the Diocese of Schwerin. Bishop Brunward of Schwerin endowed the monastery in 1233, and Archbishop Gebhard II zur Lippe of Bremen confirmed its establishment and mandated the Benedictine Rule. The monastery, dedicated to Mary and John the Evangelist, developed quickly. A fire in 1292 caused significant damage and loss of documents. However, with the support of nobility and Hanseatic merchant families, the monastery recovered. Initially populated by daughters of burghers, by the late 15th century, the local landed gentry dominated the convent. Following the Reformation, the monastery was transformed into an evangelical convent for noblewomen between 1557 and 1567, and ultimately secularized in 1756.

Rühn Monastery is situated in the municipality of Rühn, approximately five kilometers southwest of Bützow in the Rostock district, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Its geographical elevation is about 11 meters above sea level.

The former monastery church is now part of the Rostock provostry within the Mecklenburg church district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany.

• Bützow Castle (Castle, approx. 3611 m away)
• Collegiate Church of St. Elisabeth (Monastery, approx. 3979 m away)
• Bethlehem Monastery (Monastery, approx. 4509 m away)
• Katelbogen Manor House (Manor and Estate House, approx. 4983 m away)