Benediktinerkloster St. Georg, Naumburg an der Saale

Benediktinerkloster St. Georg stands on the eastern bank of the Saale near Naumburg in Saxony-Anhalt. Founded in the 10th century by the Ekkehardiner margraves, it was the oldest monastery in the Naumburg-Zeitz diocese and served as their family church. After the margraves moved their stronghold across the river, the monastery moved with them in the early 11th century. The monastery’s importance is shown by its status as the only Benedictine house east of the Saale when the bishopric of Zeitz was created in 968. Markgraf Ekkehard I is recognised as its founder, and his successors secured the transfer of the diocesan seat from Zeitz to Naumburg in 1028 or 1032. A major fire in 1532 destroyed most of the complex, leaving only a few remnants. Visitors today find the surviving parts of the former abbey church and monastic buildings near the town centre. Archaeologists have identified the likely site on the Kapellenberg west of the Unstrut. The monastery once held extensive lands and revenues recorded in 18th-century descriptions, giving a sense of its former scale.