Volkenroda Abbey
Encyclopedia
Volkenroda Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in the municipality of Körner
in the Unstrut-Hainich
district of Thuringia
, Germany
.
, although not dedicated until 1250. It was an active centre of Cistercian expansion: among its daughter houses were the monasteries of Waldsassen
(1133), Reifenstein
(1162), Loccum
(1163) and Dobrilugk
(1165).
During the German Peasants' War
in 1525 the abbey was virtually destroyed and, although restored within a very short time, was dissolved in 1540.
The remains of the buildings were used principally for various agricultural purposes. The abbey church served as the Protestant village church until 1968, when it was shut down because of its derelict condition. The village was designated for "re-settlement" and no further ordinations took place.
in Hesse
took over the buildings and set up a community in them.
In 1996 Volkenroda Abbey was designated as a "Protected Site of Cultural Heritage of European Importance". In the monastery buildings a European Youth Education Centre was established.
Körner, Germany
Körner is a municipality in the Unstrut-Hainich district of Thuringia, Germany.With 99998, Körner has the highest German Postleitzahl postal code, as 99999 is not assigned. An exception was made when on 9/9/1999, Körner could use it for this special occasion....
in the Unstrut-Hainich
Unstrut-Hainich
Unstrut-Hainich is a Kreis in the north of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Eichsfeld, Kyffhäuserkreis, Sömmerda, Gotha, Wartburgkreis and the district Werra-Meißner in Hesse.-History:...
district of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
History
The abbey was founded in 1131 and settled by monks from AltenkampKamp Abbey
Kamp Abbey , also known as Altenkamp Abbey or Altfeld Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery founded in German territory, in the present town of Kamp-Lintfort in North Rhine-Westphalia.-History:It was founded in 1123 by Friedrich I, Archbishop of Cologne, and settled from Morimond Abbey...
, although not dedicated until 1250. It was an active centre of Cistercian expansion: among its daughter houses were the monasteries of Waldsassen
Waldsassen Abbey
Waldsassen Abbey is a Cistercian nunnery, formerly a Cistercian monastery, located on the River Wondreb at Waldsassen near Tirschenreuth, Oberpfalz in Bavaria, Germany, close to the border with the Czech Republic.- First foundation :...
(1133), Reifenstein
Reifenstein Abbey
Reifenstein Abbey was a Cistercian abbey near the present village of Kleinbartloff in the Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germany.-First building:It was founded on 1 August 1162 by Count Ernst of Tonna-Gleichen, on a site then known as Albolderode, and was settled by monks from Volkenroda Abbey near...
(1162), Loccum
Loccum Abbey
Loccum Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in the town of Rehburg-Loccum, Lower Saxony, near Steinhude Lake.-History:...
(1163) and Dobrilugk
Dobrilugk Abbey
Dobrilugk Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Lower Lusatia in the territory of the present town of Doberlug-Kirchhain, Brandenburg, Germany.-History:...
(1165).
During the German Peasants' War
German Peasants' War
The German Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt was a widespread popular revolt in the German-speaking areas of Central Europe, 1524–1526. At its height in the spring and summer of 1525, the conflict involved an estimated 300,000 peasants: contemporary estimates put the dead at 100,000...
in 1525 the abbey was virtually destroyed and, although restored within a very short time, was dissolved in 1540.
The remains of the buildings were used principally for various agricultural purposes. The abbey church served as the Protestant village church until 1968, when it was shut down because of its derelict condition. The village was designated for "re-settlement" and no further ordinations took place.
Reconstruction
After the end of the GDR, in 1993 the action group "Wiederaufbau Kloster Volkenroda e. V." ("Reconstruction of Volkenroda Abbey") was established, with the aim of reviving the monastic tradition. From 1994 the "Brotherhood of Jesus" ("Jesus-Bruderschaft") from Hünfelden-Gnadental in the district of Limburg-WeilburgLimburg-Weilburg
Limburg-Weilburg is a Kreis in the west of Hesse, Germany. Neighboring districts are Lahn-Dill, Hochtaunuskreis, Rheingau-Taunus, Rhein-Lahn, Westerwaldkreis.-History:...
in Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
took over the buildings and set up a community in them.
In 1996 Volkenroda Abbey was designated as a "Protected Site of Cultural Heritage of European Importance". In the monastery buildings a European Youth Education Centre was established.