History Eisenach Charterhouse

johannes de indagine

the charterhouse domus vallis sanctae elisabeth, dedicated saint elizabeth of hungary (by marriage landgravine of thuringia), established in 1378 support of landgraves frederick iii , balthasar , of william i, margrave of meissen. first monks arrived in years 1378 1383 erfurt charterhouse. monastic premises sited outside town of eisenach, in front of frauentor ( women s gate ) south of town. in 1382 carthusian chapter general officially accepted new foundation order.

the charterhouse flourished in 14th , 15th centuries. prominent scholars of scholasticism originated here, such johannes de indagine (real name johann bremer von hagen, 1415−1475), prior of eisenach 1454 1456, , later prior of erfurt charterhouse. successor heinrich nemritz (prior 1457−1474), served 1477 1482 general visitor of lower german province of carthusian order.

the reformation split monks. in 1520s had become adherents of teachings of martin luther.

dissolution , later use

in eisenacher pfaffensturm ( eisenach priest storm ) on 24 april 1525, buildings looted , badly damaged. monks , nuns monastic houses in eisenach driven town. charterhouse dissolved , premises confiscated elector john. elector john frederick had secularised monastery repaired 1537 , used country house.

during thirty years war looted.

in 1694 duke john george ii of saxe-eisenach established orphanage , textile mill in buildings. garden used ducal kitchen garden. between 1717 , 1721 new zucht- und waisenhaus ( home upbringing , orphans ) set alongside cloth manufactory. around 1790 court gardener johann georg sckell transformed landscape garden. after orphanage closed in 1819, buildings put use house of correction.

today on former monastery grounds charterhouse garden of eisenach, given present form 1845 hermann jäger (1815−1890).