In 1298 the Cistercian nunnery formerly situated at Röbel settled in Alt-Malchow and took over the premises of the former Magdalene community here. Nicholas I, Prince of Werle, gave the new nunnery the patronage of the churches at Alt-Malchow, Neu-Malchow and Lexow (in Walow). After the Reformation the abbey was a collegiate foundation for noblewomen (Damenstift) from 1572 to 1923.