Meschede - St. Walburga

A convent for the daughters of the regional nobility was founded during Carolingian times. This convent was the second oldest in Westphalia, only Herford is older. It had strong connections to the House of Werl-Arnsberg, that within the first half of the 9th century may have lived here in a hill fort. The remains of that fort can still be seen here today. Due to the efforts of the high ranking abesses, the convent prospered. With the support of Conrad I, relics of Saint Walburga (sister of St. Wunibald and St. Willibald) were transferred to Meschede.

The convent had properties all over Westphalia. Otto I granted the right to hold markets, so a settlement around the convent grew up. In the early 11th century, the convent was wealthy enough, to commision an illuminated Evangeliary. The well known "Hitda Codex" (named after abess Hitda) is now in the Hessian State Library in Darmstadt. The romanesque church got severely damaged by fire in 1620 - and a new church was completed in 1664. The church was erected on the foundations of the pre-romanesque church.

The crypt under the choir is a remaining part of the romanesque church. Some parts may be even older than that. The relics of Saint Walburga have been displayed here - and and ambulatory run around in early times, so obviously pilgrims may have been here.
During restauration an empty ritual tomb was found. The shrine containing the relics of St. Walburga got lost in the turmoil the Thirty Years' War. But, due to the generosity of some other church owning Walburga-relics, a small shrine is back in the crypt since 1980 - and can be seen here.