Saint Claren Monastery

The monastery of St. Claren with its rich history represents a unique cultural asset.

For more than 700 years, the remarkable building complex has stood in the heart of the old town of Weißenfels.In 1301, the construction and consecration took place in the name of St. Clara. After the introduction of the Reformation, the monastery became a women's convent from 1540 onwards. The first Duke of Sachsen-Weißenfels, Augustus, founded the "Gymnasium illustre Augusteum", a kind of university, here in 1664 and engaged outstanding teachers such as Christian Weise, Johannes Riemer and Christoph Cellarius. Later it housed, among other things, the royal teacher training seminar from 1837, the first museum in the town, the town library and for many decades it was the central police station of the district and town of Weißenfels. In the west wing, the chapter hall, the scriptorium and the refectory from the time of the last new monastery building around 1500 have been preserved in a very good condition. The portal of the main entrance, on the other hand, was moved from the Jewish Street only in this century. The Weißenfels civic association of the St. Claren Monastery e.V. has made it its business to fill the venerable walls with life. Events such as the Dixilandfestival or the Martinsmarkt attract many visitors to the oldest building in the town. Public viewings provide insights into the history, but also into the visions for the building.