Kloster Tholey (Benedictine Abbey of St. Mauritius)

Kloster Tholey, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Mauritius, was founded in 634 AD and is considered the oldest monastery on German soil, with a documented monastic presence stretching back nearly fourteen centuries. The present abbey church is an early Gothic structure completed around 1300, its stone nave and choir reflecting the transitional architectural style of the period, while the monastic community itself was disbanded and later re-established in 1949 after a long interruption. A striking modern addition sits within this historic setting: the church holds a series of stained-glass windows designed by the artist Gerhard Richter, whose abstract, pixel-like compositions in vivid color contrast sharply with the church's medieval stonework and have become a notable draw in their own right. Visitors typically spend forty-five minutes to an hour taking in the nave, choir and Richter windows, with the church generally open to the public during daylight hours outside of services. Guided tours covering the abbey's history and the windows can be arranged in advance for groups. Weekday mornings offer the quietest conditions for appreciating both the medieval architecture and the modern glasswork without competing with services or larger groups, and because entry is free, a donation toward the abbey's upkeep is customary though not required.