Corvey UNESCO World Heritage Site

UNESCO World Heritage Site Corvey - A legacy of humanity at the gates of Höxter

The former Benedictine abbey of Corvey was founded in 822 by order of Charlemagne and is considered one of the most important monasteries in medieval Germany. After almost 1000 years of monastic life, visitors are now greeted by a baroque palace complex in ducal ownership. The early medieval westwork of the abbey church is visible from afar. It forms the visible core of the World Heritage Site and, together with the baroque monastery building and the extensive princely library, fascinates guests from all over the world.
 
The Westwork of the baroque abbey church of Corvey is 1,200 years old and one of the few buildings from the time of Charlemagne that has been preserved in its essential parts. In fact, it is the only surviving example of the westwork building type from this period. The original vaulted hall with columns and pillars on the first floor and the main room on the upper floor make Corvey one of the most striking examples of the so-called "Carolingian Renaissance".
 
In addition to the magnificent Imperial Hall, historical state rooms and living rooms from the 18th and 19th centuries can be seen inside the castle. The Princely Library houses around 75,000 volumes in 15 rooms, furnished with magnificent bookcases from the late classicism and Biedermeier periods. It is one of the most important private libraries still in existence in Germany. The grave of the Corvey librarian and poet of the German national anthem, Hoffmann von Fallersleben, is located in the adjacent cemetery.
 
The newly designed permanent exhibition "The Millennium of the Monks" was opened for the 2024 season. A variety of media stations and precious exhibits from the parish of St. Stephen and Vitus bring the golden age of the monks to life.

Corvey is not only a famous monument and museum, but also a lively venue for events. Best known are the Corvey Music Weeks, which are characterized by classical music. Every year since 1954, renowned ensembles and soloists from Germany and abroad have been performing in the Kaisersaal and the Corvey Abbey Church with its outstanding acoustics in May and June.

Under the twin towers of the westwork and under the protection of the high abbey walls, the Remtergarten not only grows beautiful roses, rare perennials and fragrant ornamental plants, but also berries, fruit,  almost forgotten vegetables, medicinal herbs and medicinal plants. The modern interpretation of the monastery garden is part of the Huxarium garden park in Höxter;