Maulbronn Monastery Complex
The monastery of Maulbronn, located near to Karlsruhe, is the most perfectly preserved medieval monastery complex north of the Alps. The main criteria for its inscription in the World Heritage List in 1993 were the almost untouched topographical situation of the monastery, with its cultural landscape marked by the Cistercian monks, and the exemplary nature of its cultural assets.
- © UNESCO-Welterbestätten Deutschland e.V.
The complex, founded in 1147, provides insights into the life and work of the Cistercian order between the 12th and the 16th century. Some building elements from the period 1200 to 1210 are significant for the architectural history of the whole of central Europe: the early Gothic church porch, the south wing of the cloister and the men’s refectory, which is possibly the most elaborate dining hall of the 13th century.