Sittichenbach Abbey

The monastery of Sittichenbach was founded in 1141 as a daughter monastery of Walkenried. Abbot Volkuin led eleven monks to the region to establish the new abbey. Over time, the monastery acquired extensive lands and founded several monastic farms. Sittichenbach played a significant role in the establishment of other Cistercian monasteries, including Lehnin in 1180, Buch bei Leisnig in 1192, and Grünhain in the Ore Mountains in 1235. A close economic connection existed particularly with Grünhain, manifested, among other things, in a jointly managed monastic farm in Zwickau. Until the 15th century, Sittichenbach sent monks as abbots to Grünhain to bridge staffing shortages. In 1209, Bishop Konrad von Krosigk of Halberstadt spent his twilight years at the monastery. Conflicts with the Halberstadt Cathedral arose over relics and treasures from the Fourth Crusade. In 1362, the monastery was severely affected during a feud between the Bishop of Halberstadt and the Count of Mansfeld, with the abbot and monks being taken hostage. The monastery was dissolved in 1525 during the secularization. Later, it became an administrative seat and, through various rulers, eventually came under Prussian control.

Sittichenbach Monastery is located in the present-day district of Sittichenbach, part of Lutherstadt Eisleben in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, Saxony-Anhalt. The complex is situated at an elevation of approximately 190 meters above sea level.

Only a few remnants of the original monastery complex remain today. These include a chapel, extensively renovated in the 19th century and converted into an official chapel around 1615, as well as another chapel now used as a residential building. The monk's tunnel, the monastery ponds, and the dovecote are also still present. Excavations in 1978 provided information about the location of the former monastery church, of which a large cube capital is now displayed in front of the Catholic church, and other capitals are housed in an annex of the manor house. The eastern wall of the western cloister wing has also been preserved.

• Gutshaus Sittichenbach (Manor House, approx. 76 m away)
• Burgruine Bornstedt (Castle Ruin, approx. 2784 m away)
• Gutshaus Holzzelle (Manor House, approx. 3944 m away)
• Gutshaus Neuglück (Manor House, approx. 4163 m away)