Germany's monasteries and convents dying out DW 07/06/2025
Briefly

The Benedictine nuns from St. Erentraud's Abbey in Baden-Wurttemberg are selling their convent, which measures over 136,000 square meters with 130 rooms, for under 5 million. With dwindling numbers of nuns, the community experienced a drop from 19 in 2018 to a lesser count today, leading to financial challenges. The sale aligns with a broader trend in Germany, where convents and monasteries are frequently closing; reported figures indicate a robust decrease in the number of such establishments over the last decade.
The Benedictine nuns from St. Erentraud's Abbey in Baden-Wurttemberg are selling their property of more than 136,000 square meters and 130 rooms for just under 5 million. Sister Eva-Maria confirms the sale but does not provide further details, emphasizing the monastery's financial challenges and the rising trend of convents being sold as many close down in Germany.
According to the German Conference of Superiors of Religious Orders, convents in Germany fell from 1,627 to 964 between 2012 and 2022, while monasteries decreased from 461 to 385. As communities shrink, the financial burden of maintaining large properties intensifies.
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