The Goldenstein Abbey, home to rebellious nuns, is in the sights of investors
Three elderly nuns were forcibly removed from their monastery in a secret overnight operation. The last sisters of the Augustinian Canonry in Elsbethen had expected to spend their final years at Goldenstein Abbey. Instead, they were evicted as part of a long-standing dispute over the property’s future.
The move has sparked public sympathy, with many viewing the nuns’ resistance as a stand against injustice. Now, the historic abbey—situated in a scenic park—faces redevelopment, attracting interest from investors eyeing luxury retreats or corporate headquarters.
The conflict began when the Augustinian Canons of Reichersberg took control of the monastery, originally home to enclosed Augustinian nuns. Their goal was to create a strictly male religious community, in line with 11th- and 12th-century reforms that demanded gender separation and clerical celibacy. These reforms had reshaped monastic life centuries ago, but the nuns’ presence stood in the way of the Canons’ plans.
For years, the Canons pushed to relocate the sisters, arguing that their continued residence violated the reform movement’s principles. The nuns, however, refused to leave Goldenstein Abbey, where they had lived quietly for decades. Tensions grew as the Canons prepared the property for a different future. Two years ago, renovations—including a new elevator and staircase—boosted the abbey’s market value. The upgrades made the site even more appealing to potential buyers. Then, under cover of darkness, the last three sisters were removed from their home. The operation was carried out swiftly, with little warning. The abbey’s prime location, nestled in a park, has made it a target for developers. Corporate offices or high-end retreats could soon replace the centuries-old religious site. Meanwhile, the public has rallied behind the nuns, seeing their eviction as unfair and their resistance as courageous.
The nuns’ removal clears the way for the abbey’s redevelopment. Investors now have a free hand to transform the historic building into a commercial or luxury property. For the sisters, once promised a peaceful retirement, their fight for justice continues—even as their former home prepares for a very different future.
