Stolpe Abbey

Stolpe Abbey was the oldest abbey in Pomerania. It was located on the southern bank of the Peene River between Gützkow and Anklam. The abbey was named after the nearby village Stolpe.

Ratibor I, Duke of Pomerania founded the abbey in May 3, 1153, in remembrance of his brother Wartislaw I. Wartislaw, who had subdued and missioned the area in the late 1120s, was slain near the future abbey side, legends tell a Liutician pagan murdered him. The abbey was built with monks from Berge Abbey near Magdeburg of the Benedictinian Order. The Pomeranian dukes and the Counts of Gützkow granted the abbey plenty of the surrounding land. In 1164, Stolpe Abbey hosted a meeting between Saxon duke Henry the Lion and King Valdemar I of Denmark.

In 1304, the abbey became part of the Cistercian Order, and was supervised by Pforta Abbey. In 1305, Stolpe was put in charge of Kärkna Abbey ("Falkenau") and in 1319 of Padise Abbey ("Padis"), both in Estonia.

In 1534, Stolpe Abbey was dissolved in the course of the Protestant Reformation. The Thirty Year's War made Stolpe a battleground and left it in ruins.