Monastery and Cismar
A magical place
Off to the monastery! There’s always something going on at Schleswig-Holstein’s second-largest monastery complex. And it’s anything but stuffy history. Cismar Abbey in the municipality of Grömitz looks back on nearly 800 years of history and continues to write new chapters. Originally founded by Benedictine monks as a center for art and culture, it remains so today and carries these values into the region.
Cismar Abbey is also of great art-historical value, as its impressive winged altar has been preserved to this day. The picturesque abbey courtyard, the well-maintained grounds, the moat surrounding the property, and the idyllic mill pond lend the site a very special atmosphere. In the garden, you can enjoy coffee, cake, and meals at the monastery café and soak up the extraordinary ambiance of this historic site. You can find more information about the monastery’s opening hours, events, and guided tours further down the page.
A historic building in the north
The 13th-century Benedictine monastery in Cismar is one of the most significant examples of North German Brick Gothic architecture. Since the mid-1970s, it has been brought to life not by monks, but by artists. Painters, writers, calligraphers, and other creative souls have come to appreciate the incomparable surroundings and have stayed.
For over 40 years, the Friends of Cismar Abbey have been dedicated to preserving the site. In addition, the abbey has been part of the Foundation of the Schleswig-Holstein State Museum at Gottorf Castle since 1999.
Events and guided tours at the monastery:
Why was a monastery founded here of all places, in the middle of this desolate landscape? How long did it take to build this impressive structure? Since when has the monastery been a cultural attraction? At five audio stations throughout the monastery grounds, you can listen to the rich history of the former Benedictine abbey.
The Haus der Natur is a private natural history museum featuring tens of thousands of unique specimens across an exhibition area of more than 500 square meters. Of particular note is the collection of snail and mussel shells, which, with more than 4,000 species on display, is Germany’s largest “shell” exhibition and includes a particularly large number of unusual specimens.
Open: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Groups are asked to make a reservation in advance)
Prices: Adults €4 (reduced rate, e.g., with the Ostseecard: €3), Children €1
House of Nature
26 Bäderstraße
23743 Cismar
Tel.: 04366 12 88
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Thanks to numerous donations, the monastery church is also famous as a place of pilgrimage and still houses one of the oldest winged altars in the history of art. A visit to it is a rare treat for visitors. The guided tours of the monastery therefore promise to be both interesting and exciting.
Guided tours of the monastery complex and church (including the altar)
Duration: about 1 hour
Price: 3 euros per person; children get in free
During the summer months: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.
During the winter months: Dates in the calendar of events
Special tours for groups are available by appointment.
Also available in English upon request.
Phone: 04366 648 (Ms. Bergeest) or 04363 9 05 28 87 (Ms. Jöllenbeck)
Email: klosterfuehrung-bergeest@t-online.de or info@koerperlernen.com
Take a little break from everyday life amidst the beautiful monastery grounds in Cismar, enjoying coffee, cake, and homemade dishes made with regional ingredients. If that doesn’t sound like the perfect destination for a day trip—it doesn’t get much better than this.
Hours
Early April through late October
Wednesday through Sunday
11:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m.
Open on Easter Monday and Pentecost Sunday
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The summer solstice weekend is all about art and culture in the monastery village of Cismar. Artists and artisans from Cismar and the surrounding area invite you to an exhibition at Cismar Monastery, where they will offer a glimpse into their creative work. In addition, some local artists will open their studios and workshops to the public. Art and culture enthusiasts are in for a treat this weekend: sculptures made of wood and clay, handmade items crafted from wood, natural materials, wax, concrete, and fabric, photographs, prints, and watercolors, folded origami objects made of paper, calligraphy, vintage furniture design, and ceramics. The exhibition opening will take place on Friday evening, followed by a colorful program of music, readings, workshops, and guided tours on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday evening, the traditional Midsummer Night Festival, which originated in Scandinavia, will also be celebrated. According to old custom, flower wreaths are made and worn as headdresses, folk dances are performed, and the longest of all summer nights is celebrated. The Cismar Volunteer Fire Department provides refreshments, including cold drinks, hearty food from the charcoal grill, and crispy, spicy fries.
Every year on the second weekend in August, the large arts and crafts market brings together music, culinary delights, and arts and crafts. Over the course of three days, artisans and artists showcase a wide range of their remarkable works and demonstrate how they are created. The diverse range of exhibitors includes potters, silversmiths, glassblowers, and weavers, as well as frame makers, basket weavers, hat makers, textile artists, brush makers, wood carvers, woodturners, paper artists, and wooden toy makers—and most of them in nostalgic costumes. Belt makers and bag makers, sculptors, and painters work their materials; gemstones sparkle in the sun; and etchings, prints, paintings, and silk paintings take shape before visitors’ eyes.
A stroll through this colorful market whets your appetite for the many culinary delights—both small and large—on offer within the monastery walls. From hearty fare to gourmet cuisine, there’s something for everyone. In addition to the usual thirst-quenchers, connoisseurs can enjoy fine wines, fruity juices, and liqueurs.
Around St. Martin’s Day on November 11, the monastery and its courtyard host the diverse St. Martin’s Market. Numerous artisans and artists showcase their impressive works, including canvas bags, paper art, paintings, sculptures, wreaths, and decorations made of wood and patina, as well as jewelry. The monastery café and the Hof Klostersee will cater to guests’ culinary needs with hearty and sweet dishes as well as hot and cold beverages. A varied supporting program featuring music, interesting guided tours, creative workshops, and a traditional lantern parade rounds out the offerings.
“The monastery is a place of peace and reflection—and of lively encounters!”
Sabine Höft-Dammer, Chair of the Friends of Cismar Abbey
Virtual Tour
Studios & Workshops in Cismar and the surrounding area:
Jan Kollwitz, the great-grandson of the graphic artist and sculptor Käthe Kollwitz, creates ceramics in his studio using a traditional Japanese technique. Since 1988, he has been firing his pieces there in his original anagama wood-fired kiln. The ceramics are not glazed; their colors and luster develop during the four-day firing process.
The fume glaze fuses with the pottery to form a natural glaze. Smoke, flames, and embers leave behind gray, red, and deep blue hues.
Open: daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (by appointment)
Jan Kollwitz
Altes Parish
23 Bäderstr.
23743 Cismar
Phone: 04366 614
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Free-form sculptural ceramics and custom-made pieces – the “Pottery” art studio run by designer Cornelia Scheefeld has been in operation in Lensterbek since 1982. The focus is on free-form sculptural ceramics and art objects. In addition, there is a wide variety of materials used in collages and paintings, as well as original and high-quality functional ceramics. Custom pieces are made upon request.
Open: Weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by appointment (please call to schedule)
Cornelia Scheefeld
Lensterbek 2
23743 Cismar
Tel.: 04366-949
conny-scheefeld@t-online.de
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For the past ten years, Gaby Marschall has been making hats and scarves for people of all ages, creative items made of fabric and wood, and decorative items for the home and garden in the former hunter’s lodge on the monastery grounds.
Open: by appointment
Gaby Marschall
42 Bäderstraße
23743 Cismar
Tel.: 0172 430 44 03
Graphics, design, layout, photography, drawing, watercolor, pastel, collage, and more!
Capture the most beautiful moments, convey and express moods—create a work of art under expert guidance. Painting classes covering various techniques, offered in small groups or one-on-one.
Open: by appointment
Gisela Ebert
7 Wiesenhof
23743 Rüting/Grömitz
Tel.: 04363 17 94
Graphic design, illustration, art – at the age of ten, she began folding square pieces of paper into simple animals, boxes, and letters, and thus discovered the art of Japanese paper folding: origami. Today, she combines her profession and her passion into her very own way of creating things.
Open: by appointment
Kathrin Schulte
22 Village Street
23738 Riepsdorf, Thomsdorf
Phone: 04366 884 682
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Unique coastal jewelry in Cismar: “I’ve had a fascination with stones ever since I was a child. I craft my jewelry in my small home workshop, using a wide variety of gemstones, pearls, silver, and gold. I also create custom pieces tailored to your wishes. I design guest books using various fonts, as well as certificates and my own hand-painted artwork. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Open: By appointment
Dike decorations
Feine Koppel 7
23743 Cismar
Phone: 0176 30 17 04 96
Email: info@deichschmuck.de
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Photos of the Baltic Sea, landscape photos, cityscapes, and wedding photography—evocative images and calendars featuring the Baltic Sea, your vacation destination, or the stunning landscapes of Schleswig-Holstein.
Open: by appointment
Heike Lellmann
Phone: 0174 91 82 679
www.lelli-photo.de
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Beautiful things enrich our lives! Discover your own creativity and learn a wide variety of techniques in workshops led by professional artisans, such as decorative floristry, country-style painting, sculpture, plant pot making, felting, pottery, blue-printing, goldsmithing, and much more. Sabine Höft-Dammer has been running the creative workshop on Kattenberg since 2006. Scheduled workshop dates can be found on the website. Custom workshops for groups of children and adults are available by arrangement.
Open: on workshop dates and by appointment
Sabine Höft-Dammer
8 Kattenberg
23743 Cismar
Tel.: 04366 12 41
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The artist devotes herself to sculpture using the organic material of wood. The structure, grain, and form impose strict limitations on the sculptor, yet it is precisely these characteristics that make the material so appealing. Katrin Faasel transforms local woods such as apple, linden, and oak into voluminous, dynamic forms that allow the viewer to interpret them in their own way. She also frequently returns to the material of her early works—clay—which allows her to freely shape both concrete and abstract sculptures.
Open: by appointment
Katrin Faasel
Meadow Redder 25
23743 Lenste
Tel.: 0152 216 513 60
Art at the Monastery! The “Remise” is the art space at Cismar Monastery. Here, Dorothea Jöllenbeck, together with others, offers art classes and projects for people of all ages. Groups and individuals alike have the opportunity to engage in artistic and creative activities. The program is designed for beginners, advanced participants, and anyone interested, and includes painting and drawing, mask-making and mask theater, writing workshops, and artistic creation using a variety of materials. During the morning mindfulness ritual, the artists are guided by the movement educator in meditative walking “come rain or shine.”
The latest offers can be found on the website, in the events calendar, and in the monthly OSKA newsletter.
Dorothea Jöllenbeck
“Remise” at Cismar Abbey
42 Bäderstraße
Phone: 04363 905 2887
Email: info@koerperlernen.com
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Art & Culture: Downloads
Shaped and inspired by this landscape, many artists live and work here and are happy to give visitors a glimpse into their studios.