Stiftung Schulpforta

The Schulpforta Foundation is a non-profit public foundation of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, based in the historic Cistercian monastery of St. Mary in Schulpforte near Naumburg. It was established to financially secure and promote the Landesschule Pforta, which has been educating gifted students since 1543, regardless of their background or financial means. The foundation operates the visitor center on the former monastery grounds, organizes guided tours, special exhibitions, and cultural education projects, and preserves the medieval monastery complex, walls, and church as an important cultural heritage site.

The Schulpforta Foundation is committed to preserving and further developing the educational principles of the former state school Pforta. It supports dedicated and talented students, maintains the unique ensemble of Cistercian architecture, and conveys cultural and educational content through innovative exhibitions and projects. The foundation sees itself as a bridge between history and the present and aims to be a vibrant center for education, culture, and research for visitors and learners alike.

The funding and program offerings are directed, on the one hand, at the Landesschule Pforta and its partly supraregional student body, and on the other hand, at a broad visiting public: schools and youth groups, families, culture and history enthusiasts, as well as researchers. They benefit from guided tours, special exhibitions, digital projects, and support at the visitor center. Furthermore, the foundation supports partner networks in transnational cultural heritage (e.g., Cisterscapes).