Germany > North Rhine-Westphalia > Corvey Castle

Corvey Castle

Our rating: 7.80

2013-05-19, 2019-06-23

In the Internet this place is often called the Corvey Abbey, and it is wrong: mass tourists will not go to the "abbey", as they hardly know what it is. The Germans understood it long time ago, and even the official site is called "The Corvey Castle." And Corvey really looks like a castle, a very large castle.

Corvey Castle ©Yuriy Buriak

There are guided tours inside, but you can walk on your own. I was there at 11 am, saw 2 large groups, but they were staying in the first rooms so I could walk around the huge castle almost alone. At the castle (and I visited about 40-50 rooms and halls) were only two custodians and 6-7 visitors. And the castle is not empty, there are various museum exhibits, furnishings, a huge library and paintings inside. However, now we can only see a small part of the library. Many books were lost or went into various princely family collections.

Corvey Castle ©Yuriy Buriak

On the castle territory is the oldest Westwerk in the world (monumental Western facade of the church), built in 873-875 (was changed in 1145-1159). Inside, there are original frescoes depicting scenes from the Odyssey.

Corvey Castle ©Yuriy Buriak

The first monastery on this site was founded in 822. Corvey played a significant role in the Middle Ages, as it was located on one of the main roads of Germany. Many monarchs visited it and gave various privileges. This is the first abbey where minting of coins was allowed. At the same time, Corvey become a major cultural and educational center, from which came many well-known bishops.

Corvey Castle ©Yuriy Buriak

During the Thirty Years' War, abbey buildings sustained substantial damage. It received the modern view during the period from 1699 to 1714. However, in 1803, during the Napoleonic Wars, the abbey was abolished. In 1831, the Duke family Ratybor bought Corvey.