Neuzelle Monastery Garden - Orchard and kitchen garden 3rd construction phase Restoration of the historic orchard and kitchen garden in keeping with its listed status

The monastery gardens of Neuzelle Abbey are part of the still largely preserved overall complex of the Cistercian monastery of Neuzelle, which was founded in the 13th century and which in its present form essentially dates back to the Baroque redesigns of the 18th century.



The gardens were listed as part of the ensemble back in 1979. They are the only baroque monastery gardens in Brandenburg. The main aims of the restoration are to reintegrate the gardens into the usage structure of the Neuzelle Abbey Foundation, to develop the overall effect of the gardens in line with the Baroque idea of the gardens and to preserve the original substance, which is worthy of preservation.



Since the completion of the first construction phase in 2004, the gardens in connection with the monastery have been an attraction for visitors. The summer use of the orangery as a café with an outdoor café terrace has also contributed to this.



The baroque grounds are divided into the manorial pleasure, orchard and kitchen garden (abbot's garden) and the convent garden, which are fenced off from each other and from the landscape. The abbot's garden has been open to the public since the 18th century, while the convent garden remained reserved for the monks.

In the monastic structure, the areas form the foreland of the panorama that can be enjoyed from Scheibenberg, Stiftsplatz, Konventhof and the monastery buildings across the Oder Valley to Fürstenberg. From the elevated viewpoint of the monastery, the gardens can be experienced in their view and their axial structure in an ideal way for a Baroque garden. The inclusion of the orchards and kitchen gardens to the east of the Portgraben in the Baroque structure is characteristic. It is remarkable that use and representation belong together in these parts of the garden. The design of the kitchen garden's parterre is obviously reminiscent of the "Potager du Roi", the kitchen garden of the French king in Versailles.

Until recently, the area was still occupied by allotments. The present redesign of the kitchen gardens is a continuation of the representative design of the Baroque period.

The enclosure of the gardens consists of opaque wooden fences and wooden gates. Spacious compartments bordered by hornbeam hedges are planted as species-rich fresh meadows with high-stemmed fruit trees of various species and historical varieties. The parterre is divided into a cross-shaped layout and decorated with a central roundel planted with flowers. Low apple cordons line the paths. The pavilion with its golden spires and balls is a point de vue. It is clearly recognizable as a new interpretation created from bolted steel profiles. In summer, tubs of dahlias are placed around the pavilion.

The vegetable, berry bush and medicinal plant beds form the heart of the kitchen gardens. A wide variety of horticultural crops are presented here. These include climbing plants grown on trellises, such as blue and white vine. The spectrum includes various annual and perennial vegetable plants and culinary herbs. Over the years, different crops are alternated on the individual beds and the differentiated variety of shapes and colors of the vegetable species are presented. A wide range of medicinal plants is used to tie in with the monastic tradition of healing with plants. Indian flower reed planted in tubs further embellishes this area and brings a subtropical feel to this part of the garden with these very lush flowers and leaves.



Visitors to the monastery are given the opportunity to find inspiration for their own gardens and to enjoy the landscaped nature. A walk through the grounds opens up the view for the historical and horticultural design of open spaces. The monastery gardens of Neuzelle Abbey have a very special flair!