The first monks who came to Wielkopolska were Benedictines from a hermitage in Pereum, near Ravenna, Italy. They established a hermitage in the vicinity of Międzyrzecz in 1002 and died there as martyrs a year later. Two new Benedictine abbeys were built during the 2^nd half of the 11^th century – the first in Mogilno in 1065 and the other in Lubiń, Kościan County, in 1070-1075. The monks came to be seen not just as pastoral workers, but most importantly, as harbingers of culture, learning and agricultural development. They were an intellectual elite by virtue of their familiarity with writing and were employed in state administration and diplomacy.

The Cistercians carried on the work of the Benedictines from the middle of the 12^th century with a principle mandate to restore the rigorous precepts of monastic life. The first Cistercian abbey was built in Łekno (now in Wągrowiec County) in 1143-1153, the second in Ląd (Słupca County) in 1175, and the next in Gościkowo-Paradyż (Świebodzin County) in 1230-1236 and Obra (Wolsztyn County) in 1231-1238. The Cistercians’ motto was ora et labora (pray and work) and, apart from praying, the monks devoted their time to working and living a life of poverty.