The Magdalenenstift: A journey through Altenburg's secret history!

The Magdalenenstift: A journey through Altenburg's secret history!

There is a place in Altenburg that is not only connected to the past, but also to fascinating stories: the Magdalenenstift. This impressive cultural monument, which stands in the heart of Altenburg, was originally built in 1665 as a widow's residence for Duchess Magdalena Sibylle of Saxony. However, the construction could not be completed because the Duchess died in 1668. From then on, the unfinished building served as a grain store. It was not until 1702 that the matter gained new momentum with Henriette Catharina von Gersdorff, who asked the then Duke Friedrich II for support for an Evangelical Lutheran women's foundation. He gave the project the green light, and the Magdalenenstift was completed from 1703 until the ceremonial inauguration on December 4, 1705. Wochenspiegel reports that ...

For more than 200 years, the Magdalenenstift was a respected institution that functioned as a boarding school and girls' school for noble ladies. Girls had to be at least seven years old and received training until they were 17. The lessons were carried out by monastery priests and hired teachers from the city as well as by noble ladies themselves. During this time, the monastery underwent numerous expansions, including a burial chapel in 1708 and a collegiate church in 1870/71, which are still part of the building complex today.

Change through the centuries

In the 1930s, however, school operations were significantly restricted. During the Second World War, boarding school operations were stopped in 1944 by order of the Reich Governor in Thuringia. After the war, the Internal Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Thuringia took over the monastery, which has functioned as a social center ever since. This means that it has not completely lost sight of its original mission, but today offers diaconal-social help for people of all ages.

The renovation of the historic building from 1999 to 2003 ensured that the Magdalenenstift remains a vibrant part of the Altenburg community. The long history of the monastery was celebrated on the 300th anniversary in 2005, and CEO Dirk Keiner, who has been in office since December 2022, brings a breath of fresh air and new ideas to the organization.

A look into the exhibition

There is currently a new annual exhibition in Altenburg Castle that highlights the history of the Magdalenenstift and presents important stations from the past. It is worth noting that the Magdalenenstift is not only intertwined with local history, but also has connections to important figures such as the Munich Scandal Countess and the resistance fighter Dietrich Bonhoeffer. These connections give the monastery a special significance in Altenburg historiography.

The eventful past of the Magdalenenstift is reflected not only in its architecture, but also in the stories that were lived here. The monastery is more than just a building; it represents tradition, change and the social responsibility that has shaped the local community over the centuries. Wikipedia provides further information about the monastery) and the Altenburgverein shows the historical aspects of the city.