Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Norbert von Xanten

The first documented mention of the village dates back to 965. It was owned by the family of the Counts of Hillersleben-Ammensleben, who founded a monastery here in 1110. The monastery was handed over to Archbishop Norbert of Xanten in 1127 and thus to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, with the bailiwick rights remaining with the founding family. Norbert of Xanten transferred the church and monastery to the Benedictine Order in 1129. In 1140 it was elevated to the rank of an abbey. In the 15th century the monks joined the Bursfeld reform movement. After the Lutheran Reformation, the monastery remained in the Catholic faith after a short hesitation, but also had to provide pastoral care for the Protestant community. At the insistence of the Protestant sovereign and later Elector Joachim Friedrich of Brandenburg, the monastery had to employ a Protestant preacher from 1584 and also make the nave available for Protestant services. After the secularization in 1804, the monastery church became a parish church and the monastery with the farmyard became part of the Royal Prussian Domain Office. After WWII, the domain and the church were transferred to "public ownership". The Romanesque portal.

The first documented mention of the village dates back to 965. It was owned by the family of the Counts of Hillersleben-Ammensleben, who founded a monastery here in 1110. The monastery was handed over to Archbishop Norbert of Xanten in 1127 and thus to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, with the bailiwick rights remaining with the founding family. Norbert of Xanten transferred the church and monastery to the Benedictine Order in 1129. In 1140 it was elevated to the rank of an abbey. In the 15th century the monks joined the Bursfeld reform movement. After the Lutheran Reformation, the monastery remained in the Catholic faith after a short hesitation, but also had to provide pastoral care for the Protestant community. At the insistence of the Protestant sovereign and later Elector Joachim Friedrich of Brandenburg, the monastery had to employ a Protestant preacher from 1584 and also make the nave available for Protestant services. After the secularization in 1804, the monastery church became a parish church and the monastery with the farmyard became part of the Royal Prussian Domain Office. After WWII, the domain and the church were transferred to "public ownership".

The first documented mention of the village dates back to 965. It was owned by the family of the Counts of Hillersleben-Ammensleben, who founded a monastery here in 1110. The monastery was handed over to Archbishop Norbert of Xanten in 1127 and thus to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, with the bailiwick rights remaining with the founding family. Norbert of Xanten transferred the church and monastery to the Benedictine Order in 1129. In 1140 it was elevated to the rank of an abbey. In the 15th century the monks joined the Bursfeld reform movement. After the Lutheran Reformation, the monastery remained in the Catholic faith after a short hesitation, but also had to provide pastoral care for the Protestant community. At the insistence of the Protestant sovereign and later Elector Joachim Friedrich of Brandenburg, the monastery had to employ a Protestant preacher from 1584 and also make the nave available for Protestant services. After the secularization in 1804, the monastery church became a parish church and the monastery with the farmyard became part of the Royal Prussian Domain Office. After WWII, the domain and the church were transferred to "public ownership".

The first documented mention of the village dates back to 965. It was owned by the family of the Counts of Hillersleben-Ammensleben, who founded a monastery here in 1110. The monastery was handed over to Archbishop Norbert of Xanten in 1127 and thus to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, with the bailiwick rights remaining with the founding family. Norbert of Xanten transferred the church and monastery to the Benedictine Order in 1129. In 1140 it was elevated to the rank of an abbey. In the 15th century the monks joined the Bursfeld reform movement. After the Lutheran Reformation, the monastery remained in the Catholic faith after a short hesitation, but also had to provide pastoral care for the Protestant community. At the insistence of the Protestant sovereign and later Elector Joachim Friedrich of Brandenburg, the monastery had to employ a Protestant preacher from 1584 and also make the nave available for Protestant services. After the secularization in 1804, the monastery church became a parish church and the monastery with the farmyard became part of the Royal Prussian Domain Office. After WWII, the domain and the church were transferred to "public ownership".

Beauport Abbey is located in the village of Kérity, now part of Paimpol. It was founded in 1202 by the Count of Penthièvre and settled by Premonstratensians (= "Norbertines") coming from the Normandy. The (still existing) order was founded around 1120 by Norbert de Xanten and it was a fast growing order. In the early 13th century about 600 Premonstratensian monasteries existed between Cyprus and Sweden. The abbey did well for the first centuries but declined later. In 1532 the abbey became a prebend for a titular abbot, later the the Archbishop of Tours. The French Revolution ended any monastic life here in 1790. The buildings were sold. When Prosper Mérimée inspected the ruined buildings in 1836, some roofs had already collapsed. In 1862 the former abbey was classified as a historic monument, what ended the looting of the buildings, of which some are restored and used now. The ruins of the early Gothic abbey church.

Beauport Abbey is located in the village of Kérity, now part of Paimpol. It was founded in 1202 by the Count of Penthièvre and settled by Premonstratensians (= "Norbertines") coming from the Normandy. The (still existing) order was founded around 1120 by Norbert de Xanten and it was a fast growing order. In the early 13th century about 600 Premonstratensian monasteries existed between Cyprus and Sweden. The abbey did well for the first centuries but declined later. In 1532 the abbey became a prebend for a titular abbot, later the the Archbishop of Tours. The French Revolution ended any monastic life here in 1790. The buildings were sold. When Prosper Mérimée inspected the ruined buildings in 1836, some roofs had already collapsed. In 1862 the former abbey was classified as a historic monument, what ended the looting of the buildings, of which some are restored and used now.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return. A crocodile inside the basilica!! Actually this is only the third time, that I find a croc inside a church in Europe. This is part of a collection of exotic animals, sent home by the Spiritan missionaries. The collection is display now in the cloister.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return. The west choir is its original state of 1150/60. The fresco also dates back to this time. Christ as Pantokrator in the center, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists. They are flanked by Paulus (left) and Peter (right). Seen below are the other ten apostles - and a small person dressed in a white habit. This is the donor of the fresco, Albert von Aachen ("Albert of Aix"), author of "Historia Hierosolymitanae expeditionis", the history the first cruisade, who lived as a canon in Aachen (Aix la Chapelle).

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return. The west choir is its original state of 1150/60. The fresco also dates back to this time. Christ as Pantokrator in the center, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists. They are flanked by Paulus (left) and Peter (right). Seen below are the other ten apostles.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return. Standing in the nave, facing east to the Gothic apse.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style), while the (older) western - apse seen here - is Romanesque. When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse - seen here - had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). The Baroque gatehouse is from 1723. When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return. Of course Kloster Knechtsteden, with it´s wonderful Romanesque abbey church, is very popular for weddings. As you see, I "blurred" the photo. Just in case, the newlyweds would like a "proper" one, just drop me a line.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). The Baroque gatehouse is from 1723. When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return.

The first monastic settlement here took place in about 1070, the Premonstratensians, founded by Norbert von Xanten in Prémontré near Laon in 1120, settled here in 1130. In 1184 it was raised to the status of an abbey - Steinfeld Abbey. It became an important monastery, had property in Cologne and established a number of daughter houses ("filiae") including the Strahov Abbey in Prague and the Sayn Abbey, near Koblenz. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles ownes the Steinfeld Missale that was created here around 1180. The Premonstratensian abbey existed upto 1802, when it got secularized. Now this is Salvatorian convent. So the Salavatians take care of the basilica, erected between 1142 and 1150 by the Premonstratensians as one of the earliest vaulted churches in Germany. Saint Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld (1150 – 1241) lived here, a Premonstratensian canon regular and mystic. The tomb of Saint Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld. The saint was born under the name of Hermann in Cologne, but his special devotion of the Virgin earn him the name Joseph, that was added. As a boy, he spent all his free in the church St. Maria im Kapitol in Cologne. A legend claims, that as a boy he once presented an apple, saved from his own lunch, to a statue of Jesus, who accepted it. That´s why pilgrims plcae apples on his tomb.

The first monastic settlement here took place in about 1070, the Premonstratensians, founded by Norbert von Xanten in Prémontré near Laon in 1120, settled here in 1130. In 1184 it was raised to the status of an abbey - Steinfeld Abbey. It became an important monastery, had property in Cologne and established a number of daughter houses ("filiae") including the Strahov Abbey in Prague and the Sayn Abbey, near Koblenz. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles ownes the Steinfeld Missale that was created here around 1180. The Premonstratensian abbey existed upto 1802, when it got secularized. Now this is Salvatorian convent. So the Salavatians take care of the basilica, erected between 1142 and 1150 by the Premonstratensians as one of the earliest vaulted churches in Germany. Saint Hermann Joseph (1150 – 1241) lived here, a Premonstratensian canon regular and mystic. The nave of the basilica. The structure of the church is clearly Romanesque, but there are many later addons, like the Baroque pulpit and in the center Saint Hermann Joseph´s tomp, where visitors and pilgrims have lit lots of candles. www.kloster-steinfeld.de

The first monastic settlement here took place in about 1070, the Premonstratensians, founded by Norbert von Xanten in Prémontré near Laon in 1120, settled here in 1130. In 1184 it was raised to the status of an abbey - Steinfeld Abbey. It became an important monastery, had property in Cologne and established a number of daughter houses ("filiae") including the Strahov Abbey in Prague and the Sayn Abbey, near Koblenz. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles ownes the Steinfeld Missale that was created here around 1180. The Premonstratensian abbey existed upto 1802, when it got secularized. Now this is Salvatorian convent. So the Salavatians take care of the basilica, erected between 1142 and 1150 by the Premonstratensians as one of the earliest vaulted churches in Germany. Saint Hermann Joseph (1150 – 1241) lived here, a Premonstratensian canon regular and mystic. His tomb, inside the basilica, is a place of pilgrimage. www.kloster-steinfeld.de