St. Mary's Abbey, Fulda

St Mary’s Abbey stands beside the River Fulda in the old town of Fulda. The Benedictine nunnery was founded in 1626 and still keeps its own workshops and shop. Over the centuries the community survived wars, looting and political upheavals. In 1802 it avoided closure by turning into a girls’ school. During the Kulturkampf the sisters lived in France for twelve years before returning.

The abbey became an independent abbey in 1898 and joined the Beuronese Congregation in 1982. In 1942 the Wehrmacht used most of the buildings yet the nuns stayed on. Today the community practises traditional crafts and runs a compost activator on its grounds.

Visitors find a quiet courtyard surrounded by the abbey’s plain walls. Inside, the shop sells handmade goods made by the nuns. The riverbank path offers a view of the nunnery’s simple façade. The town’s Baroque cathedral stands a short walk away. The abbey’s modest presence contrasts with the grander architecture nearby.