Zisterzienserinnenkloster Rinteln, später Benediktinerinnen

The former Cistercian convent in Rinteln stands on the southern bank of the Weser at the Kollegienplatz. Founded in the early 13th century by Count Adolf III, it moved twice before settling here. The only surviving building is the early-Gothic St Jakob’s church, its simple lines and small bell-tower marking the site. The convent’s history reflects wider changes: it became Benedictine in observance while still seeking Cistercian recognition. After the Reformation it housed a university, then a garrison church, and finally a grammar school. Each phase left traces in the fabric of the church and its surroundings. Visitors find a plain stone church with a steep roof and slender spire. Inside are an 1857 organ loft and painted decorations from the 1860s. The raised pavement and new tower added after the 1754 flood keep the building upright. The Kollegienplatz itself, once the cloister garth, now holds a modern school built on the old convent’s foundations.