Ihlow: Monastery Site, Fehn House and Trails

Ihlow brings East Frisian history to life in different ways: through a partial reconstruction of a Cistercian abbey, the historic rooms of a Fehn house and a medieval carving in a church. There is also a 40-kilometre pilgrimage route and a cycling network spanning more than 220 kilometres. This lets you give cultural themes and physical activity different weight when planning your trip. When choosing accommodation, it helps to decide first which of these experiences you want to shape your stay.

The Monastery Site and Its History

The Ihlow monastery site is open year-round and admission is free. Check the latest operating details before setting out. On site, a partial reconstruction shows the former Cistercian abbey “Schola DeI”. Underground is the “Room of Traces”: archaeological finds from excavations are displayed there in an exhibition space that also serves as a place for spirituality. The monastery site therefore offers two ways to engage with the past: the partial reconstruction and the study of archaeological finds. Those interested in archaeology and the former abbey will find a different focus here than in houses that showcase crafts and furnishings.

Fehn House and Medieval Carving

The Grootsche Huus in Ihlowerfehn is an original 18th-century Fehn house. In its historic rooms, visitors can learn about traditional East Frisian crafts and see the preserved traditional furnishings of the brick building. Craftsmanship and furnishings are both part of the experience: you can learn about traditional skills as well as see the preserved interior.

The church in Bangstede also dates back to the 13th century. It still houses the only partially preserved body of the suffering Jesus on the cross: a carved work considered one of the most significant carvings of medieval East Frisia. Here, a single work of medieval carving takes centre stage.

Exploring on Foot and by Bike

The “Schola Dei” pilgrimage route starts at the Ihlow monastery site and leads to St Ludger’s Church in Norden. The route is 40 km long in total and has 16 stations. Its total length and number of stations give you concrete figures for planning your trip. The cycling network spans more than 220 km; green-and-white signposts guide you through Ihlow and beyond the municipal boundaries. You can choose between different ways to get around: a named route ending in Norden and a cycling network that extends beyond Ihlow. The network and signage may change; check the signs on site before setting off.

Discover More in the Wider Aurich Destination

The wider Aurich destination also offers a focus on nature and education: the Fehntjer Tief Nature Conservation Station is an out-of-school learning centre for environmental education, as well as a place for meeting and public outreach. It works to preserve the natural and cultural landscape of “Fehntjer Tief”. In spring and summer, school pupils and visitors can experience the plants and birdlife of the wet meadows on outings on foot or by bicycle. This seasonal nature experience has a different focus from the year-round-accessible Ihlow monastery site.

The nature conservation station is also home to the listed Gulfhaus, a typical East Frisian farmhouse dating from 1843. Together, the landscape, environmental education and historic building give the wider Aurich destination its own distinctive theme.

Discover More Places

Discover more places in the Ihlow destination: Ostersander and Neu Barstede.

Discover more destinations: Wrisse, Lütetsburg, Aurich, Südbrookmerland, Hagermarsch and Großefehn.

Go to the wider travel overview: Aurich.