Kloster St. Raphael

The history of the site dates back to 1686 with the establishment of the Müsch estate. In 1802, it was expanded into a summer residence and changed hands multiple times among Aachen's industrial dynasties. In 1867, the van Gülpen cloth factory was built on part of the grounds. The Daughters of the Holy Cross religious community acquired the vacant factory site in 1903 to establish a welfare home for girls. The home was dedicated to the Archangel Raphael. Due to increasing numbers, the building complex was expanded in 1906 with an additional monastery building and a chapel. In 1929, the order also acquired the adjacent Müsch estate. The monastery served as a military hospital and refuge for homeless citizens during both World Wars. After World War II, elderly care was expanded. In 1977, the youth home was dissolved, and the nursing home was expanded. The religious community abandoned the monastery in 2003 and sold it in 2007 for a housing development project.

The former St. Raphael Monastery is situated in the Laurensberg district of Aachen, between Strüver Weg and Lindenallee. It lies at the foot of the Lousberg and borders the Aachen landscape protection area of Gut Müsch. Aachen Cathedral is approximately 1.5 kilometers away.

Following extensive renovation work on the former monastery and chapel starting in 2009, the Raphaelhöfe Soers residential quarter was created. The monastery and chapel are listed as historical monuments. The statue of Saint Raphael, erected in 1916, can still be found on the premises.

• Hausen Castle (Castle, approx. 821 m away)
• Salvatorberg Monastery (Sacred building, approx. 879 m away)
• Aachen City Fortification-Marienturm (City fortification, approx. 1065 m away)
• Aachen City Fortification-Ponttor (City fortification, approx. 1200 m away)