Maulbronn Monastery Complex

Situated on the fringes of Maulbronn, this monastery was founded in 1147 by Cistercian monks. It is the most extensively preserved medieval monastic complex north of the Alps, and is shaped by an array of architectural styles from Romanesque to late-Gothic. The monastery offers a detailed insight into the life and work of the order from the 12th to the 16th century. Maulbronn's monks were renowned throughout the region for their agriculture. Fish were farmed in the grounds, a complex irrigation system was built, and almost all trades were practiced within the monastery walls. Cistercian monks lived, prayed and toiled in Maulbronn for 390 years, influencing agricultural practices and the way land was cultivated in the entire region.