Birgittenkloster Bremen

The Birgittenkloster is a Bridgettine convent in Bremen’s Schnoor district, founded in 2002 as the first convent in the city since the Reformation. It stands on the site of a former bakery, designed by architect Ulrich Tilgner to blend modern simplicity with the order’s spiritual needs. Seven nuns from Mexico, India, Italy, Poland and Germany live here, led by Sister Giovanna Gonzalez, following a daily rhythm of prayer and work. The convent’s layout reflects its purpose: a tower-like guest wing overlooks the street, while the nuns’ wing and chapel form a quiet courtyard. Visitors enter the chapel through a small garden, its white interior contrasting with the terracotta exterior. A glazed wall shaped like a cross marks the order’s motto, Amor meus crucifixus est, visible from inside. Guests stay in twelve rooms, where the nuns prepare meals and offer quiet reflection. The Schnoor’s narrow streets surround the convent, creating a peaceful retreat from the city’s noise. The building’s design balances heritage restrictions with modern needs, making it a place of rest and spiritual pause.