Mariawald Abbey () was a monastery of the Trappists (formally known as the Cistercians of the Strict Observance), located above the village of Heimbach, in the district of Düren in the Eifel, in the forests around Kermeter, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.Trappist Info , a Trappist directory; p. 26. Accessed online 4 December 2006. In September 2018, the last remaining monks left Mariawald Abbey. The business had been taken over on the basis of a leasehold by "Kloster Mariawald GmbH & Co. KG" since 1 January 2021, while the church buildings remain under direct control of the Diocese of Aachen and the "Kloster Mariawald e.V." as a trustee of the former monastic community. "Abtei Mariawald" continues to be used as a place name even after the closure of the religious community.Stadt Heimbach, Abtei Mariawald, retrieved on 15 July 2026 https://www.heimbach-eifel.de/tourismus/sehenswuerdigkeiten/abtei-mariawald.php
Buildings Monastery Courtyard and Surrounding The late gothic gate had been constructed 1538 and is one of the oldest remains of the monastery Deutsche Dokumentationszentrum für Kunstgeschichte – Bildarchiv Foto Marburg, Philipps-Universität Marburg, retrieved 16 July 2026, HEIMBACH-MARIAWALD / Kloster Mariawald / Hoftor https://de.dehio.org/ausstattungsobjekt/heimbach-mariawald-kloster-mariawald-hoftor. The cloister wall was renovated in 2009 One picture shows renovated parts of the wall and upper Stations of the Cross. Kloster Mariawald e.V., editor, retrieved July 2021, https://kloster-mariawald.de/ueber-uns/chronik/500-jahre-kloster/. The Supplier access with Gate House and garages had been built in the late 20th century. The monastery cemetery is also located in the monastery courtyard, right next to the restaurant wing.Behren, Meinrad, in: Biographia Cisterciensis (Cistercian Biography), Version vom 7 March 2026 http://www.zisterzienserlexikon.de/wiki/Behren,_Meinrad The monastery shop is located to the west of the monastery complex. It was built in the 1980s. The car park is also used as starting point für hikes in the Eifel National ParkNationalparkverwaltung Eifel, editor, Rangertour Kloster Mariawald, retrieved July 2026, https://www.nationalpark-eifel.de/de/nationalpark-erleben/gefuehrte-wanderungen/ranger-touren/detail/Rangertour-Kloster-Mariawald-2Y/.
A Stations of the Cross trail has been laid out along a hiking path starting above Heimbach main townBernd Limburg, Kreuzwegstationen in Heimbach - Mariawald, retrieved 05 August 2026. http://www.limburg-bernd.de/Dueren/DenkHei/Nr.%2084.htm. From the eighth station onwards, the figures are integrated into the cloister wallVerein der Freunde und Förderer des Klosters Mariawald e.V., editor, Der Kreuzweg von Mariawald, retrieved 29 July 2026, https://kloster-mariawald.de/foerderverein/kreuzweg/der-kreuzweg-von-mariawald/. The seventh station was destroyed by a storm in 2018 but was subsequently rebuilt DOMRADIO.DE gGmbH, publisher, 04 September 2019 Kreuzwegstation an der Abtei Mariawald wieder aufgebaut - Wieder vollständig, retrieved 29 July 2026 https://www.domradio.de/artikel/wieder-vollstaendig-kreuzwegstation-der-abtei-mariawald-wieder-aufgebaut. The lower section of the Stations of the Cross runs through the national park. The use and maintenance of the stations are carried out in accordance with heritage preservation regulations.
The meadows and forests of the monastery precinct are largely managed by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in conjunction with Eifel National Park. There is also a wayside shrine in the Mariawald Forest; the site is occasionally used for church servicesBistum Aachen, editor, Station 1: Am Bildstock, retrieved 26 August 2026, https://pilgerwege-im-bistum-aachen.de/de/p/heimbach-von-leid-und-hoffnung-einem-bild-auf-der-spur/802155035/Kurt Josef Wecker, Pfingstliche Heilige Messe im Wald-Dom, am Bildstock im Kermeter am Pfingstmontag 25.05.2026 um 15:00 Uhr, retrieved 26 August 2026, https://gdg-heimbach-nideggen.de/aktuelles/nachrichten/a-blog/Pfingstliche-Heilige-Messe-im-Wald-Dom-am-Bildstock-im-Kermeter-am-Pfingstmontag-25.05.2026-um-1500-Uhr.
The Cemetery Heimbach-Mariawald was established while the monastery was being used as a main dressing station. In the 1950s, it was laid out as a war cemeteryVolksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V., editor, Germany - Heimbach-Mariawald-Abtei Mariawald, https://kriegsgraeberstaetten.volksbund.de/en/military-cemetery/heimbach-mariawald-abtei-mariawald.
Church The first Mariawald Priory Church was built in the first half of the 16th century. November 11, 1511, is considered the day of consecration. But other parts were consecrated 1539. The Trappist Mariawald Priory Church (later Abbey Church) had been built 1874 – 1891, using fundaments of the former church Rolf-Peter Cremer, editor: Die Klosterkirche – Abtei Mariawald https://kloster-mariawald.de/ueber-uns/chronik/die-klosterkirche/.
The Mariawald Abbey Church is equipped with an organ built in 1978 by the Munich organ builder Rudolf Strohmer Heimbach (Eifel), Klosterkirche Mariawald, Organ index https://organindex.de/index.php?title=Heimbach_(Eifel),_Klosterkirche_Mariawald,Josef Focht, editor: Bayerisches Musiker-Lexikon Online (BMLO), 2022 https://loci.gwi.uni-muenchen.de/s3207.
The Josephskapelle/St. Joseph's Chapel is integrated into the main building and had been part of the monastic enclosureKloster Mariawald e.V., editor, Die Klostergebäude, retrieved 6 August 2026, https://kloster-mariawald.de/ueber-uns/chronik/die-klostergebaeude/.
Main Building The main building with the cloister, chapter hall, refectory, library, original main gate were laid out in the 16th century. The usage of the rooms and the design changed while the Cistercian periode. The current layout and design of the chapter hall, the refectory, and the house chapel correspond to those of the 18th century. The Trappists added the western cloister, framed by the kitchen, the brewery (later administration wing) and the novitate wing, about 1900. Also the guesthouse with the new main entrance were added by the Trappists at the end of 19th centuryWolfgang Nowak, publisher: Rückkehr aus der Verbannung, retrieved 13 August 2026, https://kloster-mariawald.de/ueber-uns/chronik/rueckkehr/. The restaurant wing was added after World War II. After closure of the abbey, the restaurant had been enlargedChristoph Böhnke, illustrations and text, Kloster Mariawald GmbH & Co. KG, publisher, retrieved 6 August 2026, https://kloster-mariawald.de/klosterbetriebe/klostergaststaette/. Also the guesthouse had been expanded for an appartement of the spiritual leaderMadleine Spendier, Ein aufgegebenes Kloster wiederbeleben? Pfarrer Rose packt mit an, published 23 April 2023, retrieved 7 August 2026 https://katholisch.de/artikel/44507-ein-aufgegebenes-kloster-wiederbeleben-pfarrer-rose-packt-mit-an.
Oeconomie Building Service buildings were added as early as the Cistercian phaseWolfgang Nowak, publisher, Die Gründung des Klosters, retrieved 30 July 2026. The illustration Joh. Wentzler 1804 shows the original church, the main building around the cloister and an agricultural building. The arrangement is similar, but not identical to the contemporary arrangement. https://kloster-mariawald.de/ueber-uns/chronik/die-gruendung-des-klosters-/
While the Trappist periode, the operational building "Ökonomie" with stables, workshops, staff housing, administration were built Abtei Mariawald e.v., editor, retrieved July 2026, https://kloster-mariawald.de/ueber-uns/chronik/mariawald-wird-zur-abtei-erhoben/. The Liqueur Production Wing was added in the later 20th century.
History Cistercians Following Heinrich Fluitter's vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a shrine and chapel were built on the site of it, which became a place of pilgrimage, the Marienwallfahrt. For the proper care of the site and the pilgrim's land was given in 1480 to the Cistercians of Bottenbroich Priory, who established a priory here, which they were able to move into on 4 April 1486. The new monastery took its name from the shrine to Mary and from the woods in which it was situated: "Marienwald", or "Mary's wood" (official latin name: Monasterium Nemoris beatae Mariae Virginis).
In 1795 the monastery was closed as a result of the War of the First Coalition and the annexation to the French First Republic, and the monks were expelled. The image of the Virgin was removed to safety in Heimbach. The priory buildings were abandoned and fell into decay.
Trappists In 1860, the priory was re-settled by Trappist monks from Oelenberg Abbey in Alsace.
From 1875 to 1887, the monks were exiled because of the Kulturkampf ("Cultural Struggle") policies of the Imperial German government. In 1909, Mariawald was raised from the status of priory to that of an abbey, with the official Latin name "Abbatia B. M. de Nemore".
The monks had to leave the monastery yet again under the Nazi regime during World War II, from 1941 until April 1945, when the surviving members of the community were able to return (Klostersturm, monastery storming). The monastery had to be largely rebuilt because it had been seriously damaged in the war.
After World War II, a brewery was run at the abbey until 1956 when beer production ceased, in part due to the availability of water and brewing ingredients. In 21st century, new beer brands were developed by using original recipes, in cooperation with larger breweries: "Fluitter"Fluitter Tripel - Abtei Mariawald, Brewed by Bitburger Brauerei - Belgian Tripel, retrieved 28 July 2026, https://untappd.com/b/abtei-mariawald-fluitter-tripel/450421 and "nemus mariae"Kalea GmbH, editor, Klosterbrauerei Mariawald - Nemus Mariæ Tripel, retrieved 28 July 2026, https://www.beertasting.com/de/beers/mariawald-nemus-mariae.
Mariawald Abbey had been the last men's Trappist monastery in Germany.; there are also two extant Trappist women's monasteries in Germany, Gethsemani at Donnersberg and Maria Frieden at Dahlem
The monks followed the Rule of St. Benedict and the constitution of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Visitors can also stay a few days in the abbey's guesthouse, but the parts of the monastery used by the monastic community cannot be visited.
The abbey runs a tavern and bookshop. It also produces and sells its liqueur. In 1997, it was one of eight Trappist abbeys that founded the International Trappist Association (ITA) to protect the Trappist name from commercial misuse.
Old Rite During the tumultuous 1960s, the abbey embraced the current liturgical fashions. However, in 2008 on the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady in the Temple (21 November), Mariawald Abbey gained from Pope Benedict XVI permission to return to the Old Rite and their original religious discipline : This makes Mariawald unique among Trappist monasteries around the world, in that they adhere to their traditional, strict rule, including the office of the liturgical books in force in the Catholic Church in 1962 (particularly the traditional Latin Mass according to the old Trappist use). 2010, Mariawald attempted to establish an academic program for the training of religious priests, but no course of study was completed.
Closure and transformation Josef Vollberg resigned as abbot in October 2016.
By the end of January 2018, it became known that somewhere in the year the abbey would be closed and the monks distributed over other abbeys.
The monastery was officially closed. However, the tavern and bookshop remained open, and liqueur production was still ongoing.
The abbey's motto is Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus (translator): EVANGELIUM SECUNDUM MATTHAEUM. In: https://www.vatican.va. IOANNIS PAULI PP. II, retrieved 29 April 2026 (Latin)("Let your light shine"National Council of the Churches of Christ, editor, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A16&version=RSVCE), from Matthew 5:16.