In 1268, Margrave Heinrich von Meißen endowed Neuzelle Abbey. In the 15th century, the abbey was exposed to destruction by Hussites several times and was rebuilt around 1500. Belonging to Lower Lusatia and thus to the Kingdom of Bohemia and, since 1635, to Saxony, brought mainly monks from Bohemia to Neuzelle, who caused the Baroque remodeling and expansion of the complex in the 17th and 18th centuries. The abolition of the monastery took place in 1817 with the takeover of Lower Lusatia by Prussia. The possessions were transferred to a Prussian monastery in Neuzelle. The monastery buildings have been used for educational and administrative purposes since 1820, and the monastery churches serve as parish churches.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the monastery complex was rebuilt into a representative Baroque ensemble. The cloister, the church and the office building with the "Fürstenflügel" (prince's wing) border the monastery square in the north, west of which runs the arcade with the entrance portal and the monastery chancellery. To the south are the "Kutschstall" buildings and to the east extends the monastery garden. The collegiate church and the "Leutekirche", both in the style of the South German-Bohemian Baroque, represented the new grandeur of the monastery in the 18th century. Late Gothic elements of the original building can still be found in the cloister rooms and the cloister.
The monastery is located on the eastern edge of the Lieberos plateau in the historical border region between Lower Lusatia and the Mark Brandenburg. To the west of the village stretches the glacial Schlaubetal, and to the north lies Eisenhüttenstadt.
With its magnificent churches, monastery gardens, cloisters and art treasures, Neuzelle is one of the largest baroque monuments in eastern and northern Germany. Culinarians and music lovers also get their money's worth here: brandy and beer are produced and the "Oper Oder-Spree" festival enlivens the site annually with musical theater weeks.
Two museums, including the "Heavenly Theater" with its unique baroque depictions of the Passion, delight culture fans.
