The Carolingian westwork in the former Benedictine monastery of Corvey is one of the oldest buildings in Westphalia. The mighty tower building with its imposing entrance hall in the district of Höxter has been completely preserved to this day and, together with the lost monastery town of the same name, is the only architectural monument in Westphalia to be included in the Unesco World Heritage List.
The eventful history of the romantically situated former monastery complex of Corvey goes back 1,200 years. Founded by the Benedictines in the 9th century, the monks spread the Christian faith from Westphalia all over the world, influencing the whole of Northern Europe in particular. Later, emperors and kings would stop here and hold court in the magnificent imperial church. And even today, the waving flag in the house colors of red and gold can be seen from afar when the current owner, the Duke of Ratibor and Prince of Corvey, is in the country.
Imposing westwork
Corvey, which was the first building in Westphalia to be awarded the Unesco World Heritage title in 2014, is known beyond the borders of the Teutoburg Forest region for its impressive westwork from the time of Charlemagne. An exciting journey of discovery through the ages begins in the medieval building. Impressed by the magnificent murals with scenes from the Odyssey, fragments of which are still preserved on the upper floor of the westwork, the tour continues through the late Baroque abbey church, which, like the westwork, is owned by the parish of St. Stephanus and Vitus Corvey. The magnificent interior with high altar and side altars designed by the Paderborn court painter Johann Georg Rudolphi as well as the sumptuous furnishings of the abbey church with one of the most beautiful and important organs in the country bear witness to the monastery's Baroque heyday.
In the former monastery complex, now Corvey Castle, the route leads along the cloister and the abbots' gallery to the magnificent imperial hall. When the Landgrave of Hesse-Rothenburg moved in at the beginning of the 19th century, the Biedermeier period also began at Corvey Castle. Valuable French wallpaper adorns the family's sumptuous living quarters in the west wing.
Hoffmann von Fallersleben as librarian
With 75,000 volumes housed in 15 elegant rooms, the Duke of Ratibor's library is one of the most important private libraries in Germany. Here, visitors finally come across a well-known name: From 1860 until his death, Hoffmann von Fallersleben, poet of the German national anthem, worked at Corvey Castle as the Duke's librarian. His grave is located on the south side of the baroque church.
