In 1220, the land surrounding the village of Padise was granted to the monastery of Dunamunde Monastery (today Daugavgrīva in Riga) as a reward for the fact that the natives of this monastery helped to bring the local people to faith and baptism. Presumably, a chapel was originally built, which is believed to have been of stone. At least there are reports that in 1310 the monks asked the Danish king Erik Menved for permission to build stone buildings. Several monks were sent here to develop the religious life of the village and to maintain the chapel.
In 1317, active construction of church buildings in Padiz began. For the The works used Vazalemma marble and later boulders. The stone wall, which surrounded the massive monastic buildings, depended on the topography and followed the the course of the river. The development of the monastery was halted in 1343 on the night of St George's Day, when an Estonian uprising took place. At that time, according to the chronicle of Hermann of Wartberg, 28 monks were killed and the buildings were set on fire. After the uprising Denmark ceded Northern Estonia to the Livonian Order.
The Cistercians led an ascetic lifestyle and did not eat meat. The Cistercians were a Catholic monastic order that split from the Benedictine order in the 11th century. Cistercian monks are characterised by a contemplative, ascetic lifestyle. Its churches are characterised by a complete absence of luxurious interiors, precious utensils, paintings. The order became so influential influential and renowned that in the 13th century it already had about 200 monasteries, and by the early 14th century the number had risen to 700. In honour of St Bernard of Clairvaux, who played a significant role in the formation and development of the order, carved an image of the saint on the stone pillar of the church, along with a dog. The Cistercians established a fishery in Padiz, which included several ponds. The monastery reached its peak in 1400s.
After the Livonian War, most of the monastery buildings were destroyed. It is known that during this war, the abbot of the monastery was beheaded. Since then, there is a legend of a ghost of a monk living here, who can appear to people at any time of the day or night.
Today, the ruins of the Padize Monastery have undergone partial restoration. The stonework has been preserved from further deterioration. The monastery is open for free viewing. The courtyard, as well as the monastery building itself, is often used for performances, concerts and weddings.
