One of the most remarkable convent sites in Mecklenburg
is to be found on the eastern shore of the Dobbertiner See,
just four kilometres away from Goldberg

This Benedictine monastery was founded at around 1220. As early as in 1234 it was converted into a convent of the same religious order. Being the oldest field convent, Dobbertin acquired a reputation in the country and wealth as well. But the vagaries of history also left their traces. During the Reformation period the nuns raised fierce resistance. Contrary to what happened to many other Mecklenburg monasteries and convents, however, Dobbertin’s prime was not over. In 1572 it was converted into an institution for ladies of rank and for “the upbringing of virgins from the country in the spirit of Christianity”.

A brief annotated timeline

Kloster Dobbertin is one of the most beautifully preserved convent sites in Mecklenburg. Located in an attractive landscape and picturesquely situated on the eponymous lake, embedded into a park, fields, meadows and forests of the Schwinzer Heide, reaching far into distance, the convent radiates the charms of harmonious construction until today. Its symbol, the twin-spired church, may bee seen from far away.

Founded around 1220, it is almost 800 years old. Prince Borwin I dedicated it to the monks of the order of St. Benedict, but nuns of the same order moved in as early as 1234.

Life in the convent was hard. The nuns got up at 5 in the morning and night prayers were not said before 9 in the evening and then silence ruled in the convent…In the 12th and 13th centuries already the convent rapidly gained a reputation and collected wealth. At times, it owned a total of 25,122 hectares of forests, meadows, arable land and water bodies. Over and above there were 26 convent domains, 43 schools, 19 churches,
12 foresters’ districts, 3 brickyards, a lime burning pit, a saw mill, flower mills, a brewery, care was offered to the needy in poor-houses and much, much more…

But it was not the nuns alone who worked hard during the day. Many skilled manual workers were also kept busy, including bakers, butchers, brewers, fitters, people to light fires, cabinet makers and carpenters, painters and bricklayers. Work in school, pastoral activities and nursing care were provided by the nuns.

In 1572 Kloster Dobbertin was converted into an institution for ladies of rank, but only after fierce resistance against the Reformation efforts. For an “upbringing of virgins from the country in the spirit of Christianity”, Kloster Dobbertin now accepted daughters of the nobility as well as of mayors from Mecklenburg. Their lives could in no way be compared to that of the nuns. Extended landed properties and a considerable income guaranteed the titled ladies a generous way of life, complete with servants and other pleasurable features. Over the centuries, the same names recurred again and again, including von Bassewitz, von Pressentin, von Oertzen, von Raven, von Brandenstein, von der Luehe, von Stengelin, von Winterfeld, von Bluecher and von Buelow. Those families also played a major role in the history of the country.

After the 1918 revolution the new government took over all property for the state. Under the constitution of the Mecklenburg-Schwerin Free State, the forceful disestablishment of the three convents in the state (Dobbertin, Malchow and Ribnitz) in 1920 was no longer contestable. As of 1920 the Luebz local authorities managed Kloster Dobbertin. Despite many years of legal action challenging the legal validity of this disestablishment, it could not be overturned.

The chequered history of Kloster Dobbertin continued its course. Refugees and evacuees were accommodated in 1942. Later it was used as a rest-home for mothers, in 1945 it was taken over and used as living quarters by soldiers of the Soviet occupying forces. The idyllic convent suffered, buildings were heavily damaged. When the occupying forces left in 1947, fires and looting destroyed large numbers of historical relics.

In 1947 it required considerable efforts by the state government to set up a residential and nursing home for the elderly, accommodating 500 people at Kloster Dobbertin. Since 1961 it served as a follow-up care centre of the former Schwerin district psychiatric hospital. This, at times, provided accommodation and medical care for over 600 people with mental health issues, certainly not an easy challenge at any time!

There was another new beginning in 1991. The Diakoniewerk was set up, an institution caring for and supporting disabled people. A new workshop facility was commissioned in 1994, a large catering establishment complete with dining hall was opened in 1998.

On 27 May 1997 the state government of Mecklenburg - West Pomerania adopted a decision concerning a general renewal of Kloster Dobbertin. This decision will be implemented gradually over the coming years. Very much has been achieved in recent years regarding the refurbishment of historical buildings. But much still remains to be done to repair convent site exteriors and interiors inclusive of the church and in such a way that all visitors may again experience some of the history of Kloster Dobbertin.

A comprehensive renewal of the enclosure buildings was launched in 2003. Work on the church went on as well. Also in 2003 an intensive-care unit for people with mental health problems opened in Goldberg.