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 visitors 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 type from this period. The original vaulted hall with columns and pillars on the first floor and the main room on the upper floor place Corvey among the most striking examples of the so-called "Carolingian Renaissance".
Inside the castle, in addition to the magnificent Imperial Hall , historic state rooms and living rooms from the 18th and 19th centuries can be visited. The Princely Library houses around 75,000 volumes in 15 rooms, furnished with magnificent bookcases from the late classicist 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 adjoining 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. Stephanus and Vitus bring the golden age of the monks to life.
Corvey is not only a famous architectural monument and museum, but also a lively venue for events. The 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 performed in the Kaisersaal and the Corvey Abbey Church with its excellent acoustics during the months of May and June.
Beneath the twin towers of the Westwerk and protected by the high monastery walls, the Remtergarten is home not only to 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.
