Hesse / Hessen

Wynfreth from Essex, missionary to the german tribes, was given the name "Bonifatius" by Pope Gregor II. Born around 673 in Credditon, educated around Exeter, he undertook his first (but unseccessful) trip to the continental tribes in 716. Under his new name and more successfull he worked in what is now Hesse and Thuringia for many decades. At the age of 80 (!) he turned again northwest to Frisia, where he failed as a young man. Some historians believe, that he tried to reach martydom, heading into that area. Well, he did. The Frisians killed him and his party near a place named Dokkum, which is now in the Netherlands. His remains (he was about 6ft. tall) rest in this tomb.

The construction of St. Michael started 820 and has preromanistique features down in the crypt. It has changed widely over the centuries, but still is very impressive. Unfortunately it is not allowed to take photos inside. Not at all.

The dark and narrow crypt od St. Michael. This belonged to the Benedictine monastery of Fulda, founded 744 by Saint Sturmius, a disciple of Saint Boniface. The construction of St. Michael started with this crypt around 820. 200 years later it was tried to form the church above the crypt a copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. This is a model, just to give an overview. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The construction of the abbey church (three nave basilica) with transept) started 1145. It got consecrated in 1186. The row of Gothic side chapel on the southern side was added 1310-1340 kloster-eberbach.de/ . If you have 30 minutes - here is a brilliant video (in German): www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/1454272/Eberbach---...

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The construction of the abbey church (three nave basilica) with transept) started 1145. It got consecrated in 1186. The central nave, facing east. You may remember the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel. Most of the interiors were shot in Kloster Eberbach. William of Baskerville (alias Sean Connery) whispered here to his confreres after the first murder had happened. kloster-eberbach.de/ If you have 30 minutes - here is a brilliant video (in German): www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/1454272/Eberbach---...

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The construction of the abbey church (three nave basilica) with transept) started 1145. It got consecrated in 1186. You may remember the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel. Most of the interiors were shot in Kloster Eberbach. The Counts of Katzenelnbogen had been sponsors of Kloster Eberbach for generations. Since 1311, this church served as their family tomb. Many tomb slabs now line the left aisle. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The oldest parts of the cloister were probably erected together with the abbey church 1150/1200 in Romanesque style. The younger ones in Gothic style. After the secularisation some parts of it got demolished. Most interiors of the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel, where shot in Kloster Eberbach. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The oldest parts of the cloister were probably erected together with the abbey church 1150/1200 in Romanesque style. The younger ones in Gothic style. After the secularisation some parts of it got demolished. Most interiors of the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel, where shot in Kloster Eberbach. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The oldest parts of the cloister were probably erected together with the abbey church 1150/1200 in Romanesque style. The younger ones in Gothic style. After the secularisation some parts of it got demolished. Most interiors of the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel, where shot in Kloster Eberbach. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards (~ 200 hectares) and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The oldest parts of the cloister were probably erected together with the abbey church 1150/1200 in Romanesque style. The younger ones in Gothic style. After the secularisation some parts of it got demolished. Most interiors of the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel, where shot in Kloster Eberbach. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards (~ 200 hectares) and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. A close look up the central pillar of the chapter-house. Most interiors of the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel, where shot in Kloster Eberbach. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards (~ 200 hectares) and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The monks´ dormitory is vast - and a jewel of early Gothic architecture. The awesome dimensions cannot be seen from this point of view. Most interiors of the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel, where shot in Kloster Eberbach. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards (~ 200 hectares) and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. Inside the square chapter-house. Most interiors of the film "The Name of the Rose", based on Umberto Eco´s novel, where shot in Kloster Eberbach. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards (~ 200 hectares) and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. The buildings, in which the lay-brothers lived and worked were separated by this yard from the monks´ enclosure, built all around the cloister. They had as well a different entrance to the abbey church, seen in the back. kloster-eberbach.de/

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the east bank of the Rhine. A small Benedictian monastery had been here before, but after the Cistercian "relaunch", the abbey really thrived, becoming one of the largest and economically most sucessful in Germany. During the 12th/13th century about 100 monks plus 200 lay brothers lived here. Already in 1211, Kloster Eberbach possessed more than 200 settlements, all quoted in the "Oculus Memoriae", an "inventory list". Despite some setbacks due to wars, the monastery continued very sucessfully upto the time of the French Revolution, when the decline started. Politics changed dramatically during the time of secularisation. In 1803 the abbey was dissolved, the remaining monks were forced to leave. The complex with all assets came into the ownership of the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen. From 1866 on, it was owned by Prussia, later Hesse. The buildings were used as a prison and as a lunatic asylum during that time. Meanwhile the management of the vast vineyards (~ 200 hectares) and wine production has continued in state hands. Great white wines are produced here! The buildings now are owned by a charitable foundation, aiming to maintain the important complex. In the old lay-brothers´ refectory (erected ~ 1200) now is a line up of old wine presses. Some of these date back to medieval times. With 300 hectares of vineyards (= 300.000m²) Kloster Eberbach was the largest producer in Europe in the old days. The abbey not oly had an own transport infrastructure, but as well entertained an office in Cologne to market the products. The biggest cask here had a volume of more than 72.000 liters (equivalent to more than 100.000 "modern" bottles). In 1525, during the German peasant-war, the abbey was in the hands of the rebels for a few days. Time enough to empty this cask by two thirds. kloster-eberbach.de/ If you want to see one of these wine presses at work, see this (German) video. www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/1454272/Eberbach---...

The Carolingian "Einhardsbasilika" can be found in Steinbach, a district of Michelstadt, next to the moated castle of Fuerstenau. Einhard (*~770), educated by monks in Fulda, was an important adviser of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious. He is the author of the "Vita Karoli Magni", the biography of Charlemagne. He was the successor of Alcuin of York and possibly of friend of Bernhard of Aniane. Einhard was a well connected intellectual of his time, maybe an early "spin doctor". Louis the Pious gave Einhard this property for the foundation of an abbey. Einhard started the erection of the three nave basilica, that he had planned as a burial place, in 824. Einhard had even sent his servant Ratleik to Rome, to acquire some relics. When Ratleik returned, he had the relics of martyrs St. Marcellinus and St. Peter. Though it was illegal to "steal" relics from the catacombs in Rome, Ratleik had been very sucessful. But as soon as the relics were placed here, Einhard suffered from haunting nightmares. It came out, that the relics did not like the place at all. They suffered as well. So Einhard had them transferred to a Seligenstadt (50kms north), where he built another Einhardbasilika. The relics felt comfortable and Einhard and his wife Emma found a burial place there as well. The Einhardbasilika seen here, got forgotten totally. Altered and rebuilt many times, vogtei of the Lorsch abbey, then a nunnery for a while, later a hospital and finally a barn, owned by the House of Erbach since 1542. The basilica was saved as it had served as a burial ground for the House of Erbach for a while. So Counts just paid some repairs from time to time. When the barn was discovered as the lost Einhardbasilica, a part of a Carolingian monastery, in the 1870s, it was about to collapse. For decades it was hidden under scaffoldings - but since it has a new roof, it is "safe" again. The House of Erbach sold the structure to the state Hesse in 1967.

The Carolingian "Einhardsbasilika" can be found in Steinbach, a district of Michelstadt, next to the moated castle of Fuerstenau. Einhard, educated by monks in Fulda, was an important adviser of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious. He is the author of the "Vita Karoli Magni", the biography of Charlemagne. He was the successor of Alcuin of York and possibly of friend of Bernhard of Aniane. Einhard was a well connected intellectual of his time, maybe an early "spin doctor". Louis the Pious gave Einhard this property for the foundation of an abbey. Einhard started the erection of the three nave basilica, that he had planned as a burial place, in 824. Einhard had even sent his servant Ratleik to Rome, to acquire some relics. When Ratleik returned, he had the relics of martyrs St. Marcellinus and St. Peter. Though it was illegal to "steal" relics from the catacombs in Rome, Ratleik had been very sucessful. But as soon as the relics were placed here, Einhard suffered from haunting nightmares. It came out, that the relics did not like the place at all. They suffered as well. So Einhard had them transferred to a Seligenstadt (50kms north), where he built another Einhardbasilika. The relics felt comfortable and Einhard and his wife Emma found a burial place there as well. The Einhardbasilika seen here, got forgotten totally. Altered and rebuilt many times, vogtei of the Lorsch abbey, then a nunnery for a while, later a hospital and finally a barn. The basilica was saved as it had served as a burial ground for the House of Erbach in the 14th century. So the Counts just paid some repairs from time to time. When the Einhardbasilica was "discovered" as a part of a Carollingian monastery in the 1870s, it was about to collapse. For decades it was hidden under scaffoldings - but since it has a new roof, it is "safe" again. The central nave of the basilica, facing east to the apse. The large window on the right - opened to the arm of the transept in the 9th century. The clerestory is "in place", the side aisles do not exist any longer, but the arcades are clearly visible. The oldest tomb slabs in the basilica date back to the 12th century.