Stepenitz

Stepenitz is a district of the municipality of Marienfließ in Brandenburg, in the Prignitz district, with around 400 inhabitants. Until December 30, 2001, the village was an independent municipality. The administrative affairs of the municipality are handled by the Meyenburg Office, to which five municipalities have come together to streamline their operations. The name of the place is derived from the Elbe tributary Stepenitz, whose upper course flows past the village as a largely undeveloped and natural stream.
The village is particularly significant because of the oldest Cistercian convent in Prignitz, the Marienfließ convent founded in 1231. Knight Johann Gans of Putlitz established the convent partly to secure the border with Mecklenburg – monastic land was generally spared from military conflicts. On the other hand, the convent provided security for the daughters of the noble families in Prignitz. Under the name of Stift Marienfließ, the Protestant Church today uses the area with its park as a nursing home and assisted living facility in diaconal elder care.

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