Has anyone been here? Or better yet, is it worth going to if it’s a little out-of-the-way? Someone I know recommended it but it looks like it might be a little difficult to get to by train.
If I went there, it would be when I am staying in Gengenbach, which means I would need to get there by train/bus.
Just wondering what everyone’s thoughts are on this place and if it’s worth a bit of trouble.
Germany has the most extensive rail system in all of Europe, second by only one percent in density to Switzerland. You can get to a lot of places with the train. This rail system is heavily augmented by a system of buses. In the case of Maulbronn, you can get fairly close with the train, but you will have to do the last part by bus or by bus/foot.
I have been there. I took the train and walked to the monastery from the train station. It wasn’t a long walk. The monastery was really pretty and had an interesting audio guide available in English that described the history of what you were seeing and some information about life for the monks that lived there. There was a nice place to get lunch within the monastery. From within the monastery you can also walk up onto a part of the wall and into the vineyards outside the walls for a nice little walk. I enjoyed my visit.
Thanks for mentioning this, Mardee - it, and the town, are just what we like to visit in Germany. I didn't know about it before... it is now on the list.
Lee, I don't mind doing part by bus. It will be a bit of a distance for a day trip, but I think it will be worth it. I checked on DB and it looks like it would be faster to take the train to Mühlacker and then a 20 minute bus to the monastery, rather than taking the train to Maulbronn.
Karen, thanks for the description! It looks really lovely and it sounds like it would definitely be worth a day trip there. I wish I had time to spend a few days in the village but it would mean eliminating Cologne and Aachen and I hate to do that. But a day trip there will be nice and I can always come back another trip.
Nigel, there are a number of hikes around there as well, and a beautiful nature park. By the way, the friend who recommended it stayed at the Hotel Klosterpost in Maulbronn and said it was very nice. Unfortunately, I only have time for a day trip but it would be nice to come back and stay longer.
My wife likes to visit churches, monasteries and such. We were based in Ladenburg for a while in October of 2019 and visited Maulbronn from there, stopping off at Bruchsal Palace first. We were two of only a handful of visitors at the time. It was an overcast day, a lot gloomier inside than the photos presented on the official website. The restaurant was closed, the little town not much to write home about. In spite of that, I'd recommend it if you are close by. If it takes 2 or 3 hours by public transport, then no.
I haven't been but downtown Karlsruhe appears compact with some interesting buildings. It also has a palace and a couple of large gardens.
Going off on a tangent here…I have visited the cathedral and 900-year-old Cistercian monastery complex in Altenberg, just northwest of Cologne, several times and recommend it to OP since you’ll be in the area. It is well maintained, with several tours through the different buildings, along with hiking trails, a nature park and a really cute old town. It is part of a cross-European effort to tell the story of the Cistercian order and all they built via a joint project of six ex-monasteries in different countries. I found their website, but it doesn’t appear to have an English translated version: Altenberger Dom
Definitely off the beaten path, but not as far off as the Maulbronn Monastery maybe, and an interesting back door. I’d go again.
That sounds interesting, Nelly, and well worth a visit. I can read some German and what I can't, Chrome/Google Translate will handle so I will check it out. Thank you!
