Hildesheim Charterhouse
Christian·Germany·Former monastery, parts occupied by St. Bernward Hospital·14th century
Hildesheim Charterhouse was a former Carthusian monastery founded in 1388 by Gerhard vom Berge, bishop of Hildesheim. It faced significant destruction and re-establishment multiple times due to religious conflicts and wars, before ultimately being dissolved in 1777. Today, parts of its legacy persist in the Hildesheim Cathedral library and the St. Bernward Hospital, which occupies some of the former premises.
Key Facts
- ›Founded in 1388 by Bishop Gerhard vom Berge of Hildesheim.
- ›The initial foundation was a response to a victory in the battle of Dinklar.
- ›Suffered significant damage and looting during the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud and the Thirty Years' War.
- ›Re-established inside the town walls in 1659-1660 for better protection.
- ›Dissolved in 1777, with its assets transferred to the Hildesheim seminary.
- ›The St. Bernward Hospital was opened in part of the secularized charterhouse in 1852.
Baroque
Baroque Gateway, Monastery Library
Kartause Hildesheim, Kartause Marienkloster, Domus Claustri Beatae Mariae
Gerhard Vom Berge, Magnus I, Duke of Brunswick-LüNeburg, Dietrich Loher, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, Bernhard Aly, Friedrich Wilhelm Von Westphalen, Carl Unkraut, Eduard Jakob Wedekin, Saint Bruno of Cologne
Battle of Dinklar, Hildesheim Diocesan Feud, Thirty Years' War
About Hildesheim Charterhouse
Hildesheim Charterhouse, known in Latin as Domus Claustri Beatae Mariae and in German as Kartause Hildesheim or Kartause Marienkloster, was a significant Carthusian monastery located in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, Germany. Its establishment marked a period of religious and political complexity in the region.
History and Context
The charterhouse was founded in 1388 by Gerhard vom Berge, bishop of Hildesheim, as a thanksgiving for his victory over Magnus I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, in the battle of Dinklar. The initial construction was situated outside the town walls, on land that had previously held the Bennoburg fortress. The early history of the monastery was marked by turbulence, including being set on fire by Hildesheim inhabitants during the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud in 1522 and subsequent looting in 1542. These events led to the monks withdrawing to Cologne, with some accompanying their prior, Dietrich Loher, to Buxheim Charterhouse.
The monastery experienced further destruction during the Thirty Years' War, with Danish troops and Hildesheim inhabitants demolishing the ruins in 1632. It was re-established inside the town walls between 1659 and 1660 for enhanced security. Notable figures associated with its later history include Bernhard Aly, an assimilated Ottoman prisoner of war who entered the monastery in 1708 and lived there as Pater Josephus until at least 1758.
Dissolution and Legacy
The charterhouse was dissolved in 1777 under an agreement between the Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim, Pope Pius VI, and Emperor Joseph II. Its assets were transferred to the Hildesheim seminary to improve its income, and the monks were relocated to other monasteries. The last prior, Carl Unkraut, eventually moved to Vogelsang Charterhouse.
While the monastery itself no longer operates as a monastic community, its legacy endures. Part of its library was acquired by the Hildesheim Cathedral library. Significantly, in 1852, the St. Bernward Hospital was opened in what was known as the 'Karthaus,' the south wing of the secularized charterhouse, and this institution continues to exist today. The most prominent surviving architectural element is the Baroque gateway, now integrated into the St. Bernward Hospital complex, featuring figures of the Madonna, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Bruno of Cologne.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hildesheim Charterhouse founded?
Hildesheim Charterhouse was founded on 2 May 1388. The deed of foundation was executed by Gerhard vom Berge, bishop of Hildesheim.
What happened to the monks during periods of conflict?
During the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud in 1542, the monks withdrew to Cologne due to repeated looting and the introduction of the Protestant Reformation. They were able to reoccupy the premises in 1613, but the monastery was destroyed again in 1626 during the Thirty Years' War.
When was the charterhouse dissolved?
The monastery was dissolved in 1777 by Prince-Bishop Friedrich Wilhelm von Westphalen. Its assets and estate were assigned to the improvement of the income of the Hildesheim seminary.
What remains of Hildesheim Charterhouse today?
The last visible structural trace is a Baroque gateway now part of the St. Bernward Hospital. Parts of the monastery library were acquired by the Hildesheim Cathedral library, and the St. Bernward Hospital itself occupies some of the secularized charterhouse buildings.
Why was the charterhouse re-established inside the town walls?
The charterhouse was re-established inside the town walls in 1659-1660 under Prince-Bishop Maximilian Henry of Bavaria for its better protection. This followed its destruction during the Thirty Years' War.
Related Monasteries
Ahrensbök Charterhouse
Ahrensbök Charterhouse was a Carthusian monastery established in 1397 in Ahrensbök, Holstein, Germany. Although secularized during the Reformation in 1584 and its buildings largely demolished, the monastery church, St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche), still stands as a significant surviving structure. The materials from the demolished charterhouse were later used to construct a castle, Schloss Hoppenbrook, which itself was eventually demolished.
Cologne Charterhouse
Cologne Charterhouse was a significant Carthusian monastery founded in 1334 and developed into the largest charterhouse in Germany. Despite periods of prosperity and intellectual activity, it faced dissolution by French Revolutionary troops in 1794, followed by destruction in World War II. The present complex is largely a post-war reconstruction, with its church now serving a Protestant congregation.
Engelgarten Charterhouse
Engelgarten Charterhouse, also known by its Latin name Hortus angelorum, was a former Carthusian monastery located in Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany. Founded in the mid-14th century, it served as a significant monastic site and provided refuge during turbulent times, notably the Thirty Years' War. The charterhouse was dissolved in 1803 during secularization, and its church was later demolished in the mid-19th century.