Reins Abbey 2 (Abbey Church)

Abbey churches had a unique form in Norway in the Middle Ages, they were built in the form of a Greek cross (arms of the same length). In the middle of this church there was a high tower, visible from a great distance due to its location on Reinshaugen. The remains of three of the cross arms, an original portal, a winding staircase and two side chapels from the cross Church have been preserved. At some point the left cross arm was replaced with a large nave in early gothic style, where the remains of the western wall still remain. In addition to the Abbey church there was also a Monastery and many other buildings, but none of these remain today. The stone mason marks that are still visible on the stone tell us that the same masons who carved stones for Nidaros Cathedral also cut the stones for Reins Abbey. The Abbey which probably belonged to the order of Augustine, was closed down with the reformation. From 1531 until her death in 1555 Mrs Inger of Austrått was the Abbey’s superintendent. After that the Abbey’s estate was overseen by secular sheriffs. In 1704 the Abbey was taken over by Ebbe Carstensen. His descendants the Hornemann family still live on the farm today. The Park which surrounds the monastery gardens and the Abbey ruins depicts the history of one of Trøndelag’s most important monastic facilities. The Park, with its ponds, variety of plants, viewpoints paths and picturesque composition, paints a good picture of an ideal 18th century park. Stone from Rein Abbey was after the reformation used in the reconstruction of the Our Lady Church in Trondheim. The ruins that stand here today are owned by the Society for the preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. The Rissa village museum currently own the red lodge which stands on the farm, in the long red building there was previously a dairy school. It was the first dairy school in Nordafjells and trained female dairy maids. Today Reins Abbey is run as an organic farm. And Reins Abbey ice cream has won many prizes for its delicious flavour.