Machern Abbey

Not far from Bernkastel-Kues, situated directly opposite the wine town of Zeltingen-Rachtig, you will find the Machern Monastery – a popular excursion destination on the Moselle. It was founded in 1238 as a Cistercian nunnery; subordinate to the abbot of Himmerod. From 1395 onwards, Machern Monastery had market rights and jurisdiction. People gathered here for the annual markets and for the fair on Cornelius Day. Rachtig, or Machern, was the Moselle port of the Eifel; the port of Wittlich; here, particularly the iron products from the ironworks in the Salmtal were loaded; here, the tanners from Malmedy crossed over the Rachtiger ferry with their carts to the leather market, from where they returned with the famous Rachtiger red wine along the "Wine Route" via Wittlich, Prüm, and Malmedy, delivering the wine to Flanders and Brabant. / With the secularization in 1802, monastic life came to an end. The van Ellinkhiuzen and Grach families then practiced agriculture and viticulture there until 1969. The Schneider family purchased the property and restored the basic structure starting in 1969, and then sold it to the Günther Reh family in 2000. Today, it offers numerous recreational opportunities, gastronomy, the monastery park, a monastery brewery, and the Historical Toy, Doll, and Icon Museum. Concerts in the Baroque hall allow you to experience the beautiful acoustics in the Baroque hall.

Hans de Jong