Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Steinfeld Abbey

The Kloster Niederehe is a former Premonstratensian monastery, founded in 1162 by the local nobles. It was planned to have a convent in accordance with the Augustine rule for unmarried aristocratic daughters. The erection of the church and first convent buildings was done up to 1175. In 1225 the Archbishop of Cologne transferred the convent to the Steinfeld Abbey - and so monastery in Niederehe followed the rules of the Premonstratensian order. In the next centuries the economic situation of the went worse and the nuns ran into debts. When in the second half of the 15th century a fire devastated the monastery building and parts of the church, many people saw this as a sign from heaven. After years of reconstruction, the Niederehe Monastery was converted into a male monastery in 1505. In 1567, the Lords of Manderscheid-Schleiden converted to Protestantism. While the nave of the church was now used for Protestant services, the choir room was reserved for the Catholic community of Niederehe and the monastery. In 1593 the county became a Catholic again. In the 18th century, extensive renovations and new buildings were realized. When French Revolutionary troops took over the left bank of the Rhine the monastic life ended. In 1803, the monastery was dissolved under Napoleon Bonaparte in the course of secularization, the last prior became the pastor of Niederehe. The monastery belonged to the French state and was auctioned in 1804. The church and parts of the monastery buildings went to the parish. The side nave is the oldest part of the church. Placed here is the Tomb of the Count of Manderscheid-Schleiden and his wife - and here some very strange creatures wait, to frighten the pious parishioners.

The Kloster Niederehe is a former Premonstratensian monastery, founded in 1162 by the local nobles. It was planned to have a convent in accordance with the Augustine rule for unmarried aristocratic daughters. The erection of the church and first convent buildings was done up to 1175. In 1225 the Archbishop of Cologne transferred the convent to the Steinfeld Abbey - and so monastery in Niederehe followed the rules of the Premonstratensian order. In the next centuries the economic situation of the went worse and the nuns ran into debts. When in the second half of the 15th century a fire devastated the monastery building and parts of the church, many people saw this as a sign from heaven. After years of reconstruction, the Niederehe Monastery was converted into a male monastery in 1505. In 1567, the Lords of Manderscheid-Schleiden converted to Protestantism. While the nave of the church was now used for Protestant services, the choir room was reserved for the Catholic community of Niederehe and the monastery. In 1593 the county became a Catholic again. In the 18th century, extensive renovations and new buildings were realized. When French Revolutionary troops took over the left bank of the Rhine the monastic life ended. In 1803, the monastery was dissolved under Napoleon Bonaparte in the course of secularization, the last prior became the pastor of Niederehe. The monastery belonged to the French state and was auctioned in 1804. The church and parts of the monastery buildings went to the parish.

Kloster Niederehe is a former Premonstratensian monastery, founded in 1162 by the local nobles. It was planned to have a convent in accordance with the Augustine rule for unmarried aristocratic daughters. The erection of the church and first convent buildings was done up to 1175. In 1225 the Archbishop of Cologne transferred the convent to the Steinfeld Abbey - and so monastery in Niederehe followed the rules of the Premonstratensian order. In the next centuries the economic situation of the went worse and the nuns ran into debts. When in the second half of the 15th century a fire devastated the monastery building and parts of the church, many people saw this as a sign from heaven. After years of reconstruction, the Niederehe Monastery was converted into a male monastery in 1505. In 1567, the Lords of Manderscheid-Schleiden converted to Protestantism. While the nave of the church was now used for Protestant services, the choir room was reserved for the Catholic community of Niederehe and the monastery. In 1593 the county became a Catholic again. In the 18th century, extensive renovations and new buildings were realized. When French Revolutionary troops took over the left bank of the Rhine the monastic life ended. In 1803, the monastery was dissolved under Napoleon Bonaparte in the course of secularization, the last prior became the pastor of Niederehe. The monastery belonged to the French state and was auctioned in 1804. The church and parts of the monastery buildings went to the parish.

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

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