The crown of German women's convents is the Cistercian nunnery in Helfta in the 13th century.
Three women exemplify the influence of Helfta Monastery on 13th century German mysticism and literature: Gertrud die Grosse, Mechthild von Magdeburg and Mechthild von Hackeborn. The reconstruction of Kloster Helfta is the most important work of the monastery.The reconstruction of the monastery of St. Mary of Helfta - more than 450 years after the secularisation of Helfta - is praised as the "Wunder von Helfta" (Miracle of Helfta). On 13 August 1999, 10 nuns moved into the Helfta convent and formed a new monastic community under Abbess Maria Assumpta Schenkl.