A Cistercian monastery founded in 1273, secularized in the 16th-century Reformation and left as an atmospheric brick-Gothic ruin.
Cistercian monks founded Chorin Monastery in 1273 under the patronage of the Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg, and its brick-Gothic church, completed over the following decades, became one of the most architecturally accomplished religious buildings in the March of Brandenburg, with elaborate patterned brickwork on its west facade. The Reformation reached Brandenburg in 1539 under Elector Joachim II, and the monastery was secularized shortly after, its monks dispersed and its buildings gradually stripped of roofing and furnishings over the following centuries. Unlike many secularized German monasteries that were repurposed or rebuilt, Chorin was left substantially as a ruin, preserving its Gothic structural skeleton without later additions, which is precisely what makes it valued today as an unusually pure example of the brick-Gothic style.
| Admission | €6 (~$6) adult |
|---|---|
| Hours | Apr-Oct: daily 10:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: daily 10:00-16:00 |
| Address | Amt Chorin 11a, 16230 Chorin, Germany |
Why it matters
One of the finest surviving examples of North German brick-Gothic monastic architecture, ruined since the Reformation
Site facts
- Built
- Founded 1273
- Architect
- Cistercian monastic builders
- Style
- Brick-Gothic
- UNESCO listing
- No
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Location
Amt Chorin 11a, 16230 Chorin, Germany
52.8988, 13.9349 View on map
Highlights
- 13th-century brick-Gothic church ruins with intact structural skeleton
- Patterned brick west facade, a hallmark of North German Gothic
- Preserved without later rebuilding since 16th-century secularization
Tips for visiting
- Start at the west facade to see the patterned brickwork before entering the roofless nave
- Summer evenings host open-air chamber-music concerts in the ruins, worth checking the schedule for
- Wear sturdy shoes, since parts of the cloister have uneven stone flooring
- Combine the visit with a walk around the adjacent Amtswerder lake
- A full visit to the monastery grounds takes about an hour
When to visit
Early morning or late afternoon light in spring or autumn.
Accessibility
Main courtyard and church ruins on level gravel and grass paths; some cloister sections have uneven stone flooring.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Why was Chorin Monastery never rebuilt?
After its 16th-century secularization during the Reformation, the buildings were gradually stripped rather than converted to new use, leaving the Gothic structure as an unaltered ruin.