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The Maulbronn Monastery Complex is located near Maulbronn, about 45 km outside Stuttgart in Germany. The Cistercian monastery was founded in 1147. The Maulbronn Monastery is considered the most complete and well-preserved medieval monastery north of the Alps. In the monastery, the evolution of the Romanesque style into the Gothic style can clearly be seen. The Paradies is the colonnaded entrance hall to the lay brothers' church. The Paradies was built in 1220 and is a masterpiece of early Gothic architecture. The Fountain House of the monastery was built in the 13th century; it was supplied with fresh water from springs in the nearby mountains. The cloister is one of the most remarkable combinations of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Almost every vault of this Cistercian monastery is richly decorated. The monastery played an important role in the spread of the Gothic architectural style throughout Germany. The Maulbronn Monastery is located about 65 km south of the religious masterpiece and World Heritage Site Speyer Cathedral, and about 92 km south of the Abbey of Lorsch. The Maulbronn Monastery Complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

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   Maulbronn Monastery is set within the Stromberg hills. The monastery was founded in 1147. It is considered the most complete and best-preserved medieval monastery complex north of the Alps. The principal buildings were constructed between the 12th and 16th centuries. The main portal doors of the monastery church are the oldest dateable doors in Germany.

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   Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The courtyard and the water well in front of the Paradise; the imposing colonnaded entrance hall leading into the lay brothers' church. The Paradise is a true masterpiece of Early Gothic architecture, built in 1220. To this day, the identity of its architect remains unknown; he is referred to as the 'Master of the Paradise'.

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   Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The 13th-century Fountain House (Well House) was supplied with fresh water from springs in the Stromberg hills to the north of the monastery. The half-timbered upper part was constructed around 1611. The building was used by the monks for cleaning and ritual washings (ablutions). This part of the monastery clearly shows the evolution from Romanesque into Gothic. A 165-year-old magnolia tree grows in the courtyard, next to the Fountain House.

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   Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The vast courtyard is surrounded by a number of imposing half-timbered buildings. Most of these buildings date from the 12th to the 16th century. The monastery is protected by a fortified wall and a gate tower. The 15th-century gate tower was built in the Late Gothic style and serves as the main entrance to the Maulbronn Monastery.

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   The church of the Maulbronn Monastery Complex features a finely decorated vaulted ceiling. The Romanesque church was completed in 1178; the original wooden ceiling was replaced by this Gothic vault in 1424. A stone choir screen, which was used to separate the monks from the lay brothers, remains in place today. The Maulbronn Monastery Complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.

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   Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The decorated vault of the monastery church. Almost every vault of the monastery is decorated with painted motifs and ornamental brickwork. The monastery church features Romanesque arcades and Gothic vaulting. The evolution from the Romanesque into the Gothic style is clearly visible in the cloisters of Maulbronn Monastery.

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   Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The Chapter Hall of the monastery was built between 1270 and 1300. The monastery is among the first building complexes in Europe to incorporate Gothic style elements. One of the most important characteristics of Gothic architecture is the pointed arch, which can be seen, for example, in the windows of the Chapter Hall and the Fountain House.

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   Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The vaults of the Chapter Hall are supported by columns with notably decorated capitals, while the vaults themselves are adorned with floral motifs. A former Cistercian abbey, Maulbronn is located between Heidelberg and Stuttgart on the Swabian Poet's Route (Schwäbische Dichterstrasse), a way connecting the birthplaces and hometowns of noted German poets, such as Friedrich Hölderlin and Friedrich Schiller.

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   Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The masterfully decorated capitals of the Chapter Hall. The monastery is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture. The Cistercian monks created a unique monastery complex; they also cultivated the land and the surrounding landscape. The monastic order established vineyards and orchards and developed an ingenious canalisation system with fish ponds.

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    Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The richly decorated parlatorium (conversation room) was built in 1403. This vaulted hall features outstanding Gothic architecture. The room was used daily for socialising and conversation between the monks. A 15th-century mural on the east wall depicts the Madonna and Child. Maulbronn Monastery Complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

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    Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The decorated vaulted ceiling of the parlatorium (conversation room). This was the only room in the monastery where the monks were allowed to speak. These ribbed vaults and ornate decorations are characteristic elements of the Gothic style. Many parts of this huge monastery complex can be accessed freely, but the main monastery buildings, such as the cloisters and church, can only be visited with an entrance ticket.

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    Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The vaulted refectory was the monks' dining room; it was completed around 1230. The two-naved refectory was probably built by the so-called 'Master of the Paradise'. The Paradise, the south wing of the cloisters and the refectory were built during the late stage of the Romanesque period, in which Early Gothic elements began to appear. The windows in this room are still in the Romanesque style.

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    Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The dormitory was where the monks slept. Following the start of the Protestant Reformation in 1517, the monastery was closed. In 1556, the buildings were converted into a grammar school for classical languages; renowned alumni included the poet and novelist Hermann Hesse, the poet and philosopher Friedrich Hölderlin and the astronomer Johannes Kepler.

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    Maulbronn Monastery Complex: The 'Weingartmeisterei' houses the wine cellars. The Cistercian monks were self-sufficient, supporting themselves through handicrafts, agriculture and livestock farming. Farming and viticulture were essential parts of monastic life. The monks constructed an imposing network of reservoirs and irrigation canals to supply the monastery with water.

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    Maulbronn Monastery Complex: One of the towers of the medieval walls is the Faust Tower. The monastery is still surrounded by its 850-metre-long fortified walls and towers, including the Witches' Tower and the Faust Tower. The walls were built between the 12th and 16th centuries. Above the main entrance gate are two sculpted rosettes. The Maulbronn Monastery Complex is a former Cistercian abbey; it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.