Gandersheim - Abbey

The abbey in Gandersheim was founded by Liudolf of Saxony, progenitor of the Ottonian dynasty in 852. the abbey was founded as a house of secular canonesses, unmarried daughters of the high nobility, and the first three abesses were daughters of Liudolf and his wife Oda. The first church on this place got consecrated here before 900.

The abbey existed upto 1810, though since 1568 the canonesses were lutherian.

During the 10th century the "first female german poet" has lived here as a canoness: Hrosvita of Gandersheim. Hrosvita, who called herself the "clamor validus Gandeshemensis" ("The loud voice from Gandersheim") wrote a poem titled "Passio sancti Gongolfi matyris", about Saint Gangolph, whom I had met in Lautenbach: www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5502529863/


Even after more than 1000 years, Hrosvita is still very well remembered. Even by Amazon:
www.amazon.de/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hrotsvit+von+gander...

Gandersheim received the market and tax rights in 990 from Theophanu, wife of late Otto II, mother of Otto III, another very important woman of the time.

The immense westwork, constructed between 1100 and 1169, when the church got consecrated. There was a narthex in front of the westwork, that was dismanteled within the 19th century.