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Why
Maulbronn
is special
 It
is an exceptionally well-preserved medieval monastery and an architectural
treasure.
Tips & insights on
Maulbronn
Two
building complexes lie within the Maulbronn Monastery fortified walls.
One
is the Maulbronn Monastery itself and is clearly the star. Highlights include
the church and its porch, the vaulted cloisters and refectory, and the fountain
house (see left side of photo).
The
architectural style is transitional. Romanesque gradually gave way to the
lighter and airier Gothic design.
The
other section of the Maulbronn Monastery site is a set of photogenic
half-timbered buildings (see right side of photo). They are used partially to
service visitors with dining and shopping facilities. These structures are not
as old as they look (though some of their foundations date back centuries).
Winemaking
was a major source of income for the monks. Their vineyards blanketed nearby
slopes.
The
Roman Catholic Cistercian order founded Maulbronn Monastery in the 12th century.
The monks left for good during the 16th century Martin Luther inspired
Reformation. A half century later, the site became a Protestant seminary, which
still operates today.
You
are unlikely to find Maulbronn Monastery overrun with tourists because it is off
the beaten tour-bus path. It is reached through country roads.
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