Time-Traveling back to Paradise at Maulbronn Monastery, Germany

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A fountain with running water is at its center, and there are old, solemn trees. At both sides stand rows of solid stone houses and in the background is the front of the main church with a large Romanesque porch, called “The Paradise”, of incomparable gracefulness and enchanting beauty. – Hermann Hesse, Beneath the Wheel

Mei parks our crimson crossover. Now what? I ask. Now we get out of the car. She says it with a smile. Clearly, she knows what’s waiting for us on the other side of the parapet walls topped with ruby tiles. Once again, my wife has kidnapped me for a surprise road trip. And all I know is that we are in a secluded town, somewhere between Heidelberg and Stuttgart.

 

My heart starts pounding when we arrive at an impressive late Romanesque gateway. A gateway, which leads us into another world, and swoops us back in time.

 

Taken by surprise, we proceed slow-paced, as if our movements could disrupt the time travel. Look, there’s a witch house. Mei whispers, obviously as astounded as I am. On my left, I spot a little green chubby figure squirming under the weight of a cantaloupe corner wall. He’s staring at a point behind my shoulder. I turn around and see a bookshop. On its closed door, I read: Maulbronn Monastery.

 

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Something stirs in my memory. Something dating back to decades ago. Something about Kepler or Hesse. Weren’t they attending a seminary in a place called Maulbronn?

 

Mei walks past me, towards the Klosterhof surrounded by half-timbered houses. We stroll over the square, marveling at the sunlit medieval houses, many of which are in stone, such as the smithy, the mill and the granary. With its restaurants, city hall and local police station, Maulbronn Monastery forms a town inside a town.

 

I have always been drawn by mise en abyme, may it be pictorial or textual ones: stories inside stories stimulate my imagination. Now standing here, in the middle of a deserted medieval miniature town, inside its larger modern sister town, I feel like being part of a story. Of something surreal, as if we were characters that a writer is trying to insert into one of his multi-layered stories. The illusion is complete. So complete that I’m taken away by my fantasy. Mei is already at the monastery’s entrance and waves at me to join her.

 

The Paradise in Maulbronn Monastery, Germany © Travelwithmk.com
The Paradise in Maulbronn Monastery, Germany © Travelwithmk.com

 

The monastery itself was founded in 1147 by 12 monks of the Cistercian order, who traveled from Alsace to Maulbronn. The Cistercians were known for leading strict lives, based on pax and ora et labora. They consumed mostly raw vegetables and hard rye bread. They slept on straw mattresses, covered only in coarse woolen robes, which they also wore by day.

 

Since the Maulbronn Monastery was built over a period of a few hundred years, it exhibits features of various architecture styles. The round arches in the entrance area of the church, as well as the triple-naved basilica showcase the monastery’s Romanesque beginnings, while the lancet arches and vaults that dominate the cloisters are Gothic and typical of the High Middle Ages.

 

From the outside, the monastery church doesn’t look very impressive. But as soon as we step into the entrance hall, I’m caught short by the double-leaf main portal with its elaborate wrought iron armatures. Made from pine, this portal dates back to 1178, making it one of the oldest datable doors in Germany. It is crowned by an archivolt that was once painted. Looking up at the cross-ribbed vaults of the porch, I notice more remnants of red color, as well as black, brownish and even turquoise decorative floral paintings. Since there’s no record of the name of this masterpiece’s architect, this unique entrance hall is known as The Paradise.

 

Portal in the Paradise in Maulbronn Monastery, Germany © Travelwithmk.com
Portal in “The Paradise” at the Maulbronn Monastery, Germany © Travelwithmk.com

 

 

We suddenly hear the clattering of dozens of suitcases being pulled over the square. A group of teenagers is crossing the open space, seemingly familiar with its surroundings. Not tourists, we presume. The chatter and clatter thickens until one by one, they disappear in one of the refectories. We follow them to the building, where a sign informs us that this is a boarding school.

 

And then it all comes back to me. Hermann Hesse, who wanted to become a poet, was sent off to this secluded school to study theology, although he had no intention of becoming a cleric. Though, he made good use of his time spent in Maulbronn, since it sets the tone and location of his novel Unterm Rad (Beneath the Wheel or The Prodigy), as well as the poem Im Maulbronner Kreuzgang (In the Maulbronn Cloisters).

 

On the exterior wall of The Paradise, numerous graffiti are soaking up the sun. Most of them are carved autographs dating back to the 18th or 19th century. I place my hand on the stone, and turn to Mei. You are touching History itself, she says. You are touching layers and layers of the past… in “Paradise”.

 

18th and 19th century graffiti on the outer wall of The Paradise, Maulbronn Monastery, German © Travelwithmk.com
18th and 19th century graffiti on the outer wall of The Paradise, Maulbronn Monastery, German © Travelwithmk.com

 

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Time-Traveling back to Paradise at Maulbronn Monastery, Germany © Travelwithmk

 

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Writer - Teacher - Storyteller

Kerstin is a French and Spanish teacher, born and raised in a tiny Luxembourgish village. Fluent in 5 languages, she's above all a huge book enthusiast, a fervent storyteller and a published author. When traveling, she loves exploring natural wonders and cultural sites on long road trips.

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17 Responses

  1. Stephen B.
    | Reply

    I absolutely love this place! My wife and I were married there beneath the crucifix. Hermann Hesse has had profound impact in my life and it seemed only fitting to be joined with another person in this mystical space. The onion cakes and new wine at the adjacent restaurant were our first meal together as man and wife.

  2. Sandy N Vyjay
    | Reply

    The Maulbronn Monastery looks fascinating. Its walls must have so many interesting stories to tell. The Hermann Hesse connection intrigued me, I have read a few of his works and hence this place holds a special significance for me. And it does seem as one has stepped back in time within the precincts of the monastery.

  3. Anneklien Meanne
    | Reply

    That monastery looks amazing great place for photography, the architecture design is so stunning.

  4. What a coincidence – I have just visited near Stuttgart some months ago but had no idea about Maulbronn monastery. It seems like a historical and mystical place to visit.

    • Mei and Kerstin
      | Reply

      Oh Stuttgart is only 45 minutes away from Maulbronn! You should definitely stop at this little medieval town when you happen to be in the area next time. 🙂

  5. Danik
    | Reply

    Great write up on Maulbroon and it felt like I was there. Germany sure has some hidden secrets away from the main cities. Truly amazing destinations 🙂

  6. Barbara
    | Reply

    Germany has some unknown hidden gems, especially when it comes to castles and palaces. Need to arrange another trip there.

    • Mei and Kerstin
      | Reply

      Yes, there are so many awesome castles and palaces in Germany. And our upcoming post will be about one of the most beautiful castles we’ve seen so far! 🙂

  7. Katherine
    | Reply

    Looks very quaint and charming. There is so much to explore and do in Germany, your article highlights the fact you should check out more of the small towns.

    • Mei and Kerstin
      | Reply

      Yes, the little German towns are really charming, especially those that have been well preserved from the WW2 bombings!

  8. SherianneKay
    | Reply

    Wow, you are a good storyteller! I love half-timbered houses and a village inside of a village sounds perfect! But what i really want to do is read that wall and make up stories about the people who took all that time to carve on it

    • Mei and Kerstin
      | Reply

      Thanks for your nice comment! 🙂 Yes, I could sit there for hours, imagining who those people were and what they did or thought when they stepped in this village inside of a village!

  9. David
    | Reply

    Wow this place looks so interesting! Very impressive too. There is so much to see and do in Germany, genuinely something for everyone. Cool post

  10. Karla
    | Reply

    It feels like I haven’t discovered much of Germany then. This was such an interesting post. Wow, I love that wall with 18th or 19th century Graffiti.

    • Mei and Kerstin
      | Reply

      Thank you for your comment, Karla! I have exactly the same thought everytime we go to Germany, since we always end up telling ourselves that we haven’t discovered much of this country! It’s because all the little towns (that survived WW2) and even the large cities look so different from each other!

  11. Hi Kerstin,

    Super post, and it confirms that we really want to discover more of Germany. Our trips to date have been limited to the Christmas Markets, and a road trip through Italy before heading back through Germany – but that was way too quick. We’re back again this Christmas but we’ve both love to discover more of this superb country.

    Happy Travels to Mei & Yourself – look forward to following your travels.

    Janis & Gary

    • Mei and Kerstin
      | Reply

      Thanks Janis & Gary! We love exploring smaller towns when traveling through Germany. Our last road trip also took us to marvelous castles (look out for our next stories! 😊)
      Feel free to contact us for more travel tips!
      Cheers,
      Kerstin

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