Monastery Marienthal

The Abbey of Marienthal is a former monastery on the Eisch in Marienthal, municipality of Helperknapp, founded in the 13th century by Dominican nuns from Strasbourg.

Initially, it was a poor monastery, but this changed when Yolanda of Vianden became abbess of the monastery in 1258. Due to various donations from the counts of Vianden to Luxembourg, Marienthal experienced a revival. Yolanda established a library and promoted the economic and cultural life of the monastery. Under her leadership, the 50-meter-long and 35-meter-wide, five-nave Gothic monastery church was built, but it no longer exists today. After her death in 1283, Yolanda was buried behind the altar of the church.

After Luxembourg fell into the hands of Austria in the 18th century, Joseph II abolished all contemplative orders in 1783, including the Marienthal monastery.

In 1890, the White Fathers acquired the dilapidated monastery building, part of which also went to the Sisters of the Doctrine Chrétienne. During World War II, the building provided many refugees with their first shelter. The White Fathers left Marienthal in 1974.

Today, the Service National de la Jeunesse (SNJ) runs an educational center for young people here.

Translated from German

Source: Wikipedia

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