St. Ludger's Abbey
Encyclopedia
St. Ludger's Abbey was a former monastery of the Benedictine Order in Helmstedt
, Lower Saxony
, founded by Saint Ludger around 800. Until it was secularised
in 1802 it was an Imperial Abbey, with sovereignty over the whole town of Helmstedt until the 15th century.
Shortly before 800 the missionary Ludger entered the area of Helmstedt with Charlemagne
in order to convert the Saxons. Ludger founded the monastery on an ancient road, the Reichsstrasse, on the site of an ancient German shrine by a holy spring. The monastery's position on this important trade route was extremely advantageous in the Middle Ages
, as great financial benefits derived from the constant passage of traders.
The significance of the monastery for Helmstedt is reflected in the town's arms, which depict Saint Ludger.
The monastery premises were rebuilt after the Thirty Years' War
in the Baroque
style; the ornamental monastery gateway (the so-called Turks' Gate
) and the dovecote were added in the 18th century. The monastery was secularised during the Napoleonic Wars
, in 1802, and the possession of the site passed to the Dukes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, after which it was managed as an agricultural estate.
The buildings, including the monastery church, suffered severe damage during World War II
, but have been restored. There has been a Catholic school here from at least the 18th century and there has been a kindergarten for several decades.
St. Ludger's was a sister house of Werden Abbey
(incorporated into Essen
in 1923). The monasteries were managed in tandem, as reflected in the arms of both houses, each of which bears twin abbots' staffs.
Helmstedt
Helmstedt is a city located at the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. Helmstedt has 26,000 inhabitants . In former times the city was also called Helmstädt....
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, founded by Saint Ludger around 800. Until it was secularised
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
in 1802 it was an Imperial Abbey, with sovereignty over the whole town of Helmstedt until the 15th century.
History
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
in order to convert the Saxons. Ludger founded the monastery on an ancient road, the Reichsstrasse, on the site of an ancient German shrine by a holy spring. The monastery's position on this important trade route was extremely advantageous in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, as great financial benefits derived from the constant passage of traders.
The significance of the monastery for Helmstedt is reflected in the town's arms, which depict Saint Ludger.
The monastery premises were rebuilt after the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style; the ornamental monastery gateway (the so-called Turks' Gate
Türkentor (Helmstedt)
The Türkentor is a triumphal arch and gateway in Helmstedt in Lower Saxony in Germany. The main entrance to the former St. Ludger's Abbey and a gateway to the Domänenhof, the arch was built in 1716 to celebrate the victory over the Ottomans by Prince Eugene of Savoy at the Battle of Petrovaradin...
) and the dovecote were added in the 18th century. The monastery was secularised during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, in 1802, and the possession of the site passed to the Dukes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, after which it was managed as an agricultural estate.
The buildings, including the monastery church, suffered severe damage during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but have been restored. There has been a Catholic school here from at least the 18th century and there has been a kindergarten for several decades.
St. Ludger's was a sister house of Werden Abbey
Werden Abbey
Werden Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Essen-Werden , situated on the Ruhr.- The foundation of the abbey :Near Essen Saint Ludger founded a monastery in 799 and became its first abbot. The little church which Saint Ludger built here in honor of Saint Stephen was completed in 804 and dedicated...
(incorporated into Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
in 1923). The monasteries were managed in tandem, as reflected in the arms of both houses, each of which bears twin abbots' staffs.
External links
Helmstedt City Website: St. Ludger's Church Helmstedt City Website: Turks' Gate- Helmstedt in the Lonely PlanetLonely PlanetLonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
World Guide