Großlittgen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Abtei Himmerod
A Cistercian abbey in the Eifel founded by St Bernard of Clairvaux, secularized in 1802 and later resettled. The convent was dissolved in October 2017. According to SWR the buildings have stood empty for years and the Diocese of Trier was unable to sell them.
On 30 June 2026 a cooperative, Abtei Himmerod eG, was founded with the abbey's supporting association to take on the complex and keep it as a spiritual place, financing its upkeep through a mix of permanent and temporary housing, culture and visitor services. It is now recruiting members and asks for people to contribute 'ideas, commitment or capital' by buying cooperative shares.
Before you act. This is a cooperative share offer, not a charitable gift, and the plan includes turning the convent building into housing; it does not restore monastic life. Press reports put shares at EUR 1,500 each and the statutory capital goal at up to EUR 35 million; the cooperative's own pages do not state these figures and send documents on request. Earlier disputes within the abbey's friends' association have been reported.
Last checked 9 November 2026. Parts of this entry could not be fully confirmed; see the note above. Responsible body: Abtei Himmerod eG (cooperative), an initiative of Trägerverein Kloster Himmerod o.cist. e.V. with I.D.G. Dachgenossenschaften.
Neuss-Holzheim, Germany
Five sisters remain, two of them in a nursing home. An Apostolic Commissioner appointed by the Vatican in April 2026 has taken over the prioress's duties to secure the sisters' care and old-age provision and a move to another monastery. Another community moving in is considered unlikely; talks on a new use of the building are at an early stage.
Wechselburg, Germany
Ettal Abbey will end its presence at Wechselburg by 31 December 2026 for lack of monks; in September 2025 only two monks remained and the prior returned to Ettal. The Diocese of Dresden-Meißen is seeking ways to keep at least Sunday Mass in the basilica.