Monastery in Köln

The monastery is a place of life and community for nuns and monks. In the 4th century, the first monasteries developed. They were centers of craft and agricultural development. In the Middle Ages, the monastery had great influence on knowledge transfer, education, culture and art.

In Central Europe there are esp. christian monasteries that belong to the Orthodox or Catholic, Protestant or ecumenical faith. Internationally, there are also numerous Hindu and Buddhist prayer centers and meditation centers.

A monastery includes numerous buildings, including the prayer room (mostly chapel), residential buildings and commercial buildings and outbuildings. In addition, there are regularly fields and gardens in the monastery, which serve the self-sufficiency of herbs, fruits and vegetables. Thus, agriculture is often operated in the monastery. Pets and farm animals are kept in many monasteries. Monastic schools, high schools and boarding schools are also run by many monasteries.