Arnstein Abbey

Obernhof, Germany

Arnstein Abbey is a former Premonstratensian abbey on the Lahn River. The history of the monastery dates back to the second half of the 11th century. In 1052, an Arnstein Castle on the Lahn is first mentioned as the seat of the Counts of Arnstein. This is the oldest mention of any castle on the river. Nothing remains of the structures of that period.

In 1139 Louis (Ludwig) III, the last Count of Arnstein, transformed his castle into a Premonstratensian monastery and himself joined the order. His wife lived until her death as hermit near the monastery. In the same year, Lugwig began the partial demolition of the castle. In 1145, King Conrad III confirmed the abbey as directly under the Empire. From 1236, a branch monastery, Keppel Abbey at Hilchenbach, was established under the patronage of the House of Nassau.

Burials in the monastery include Count Walram I of Nassau in 1198. Walram's grandson Henry (Heinrich) (son of Count Henry II of Nassau) became a monk in Arnstein Abbey in 1247.

In 1360, the monastery church was completed. The structure includes individual components which have been dated to the 12th century.

In 1803, the monastery was dissolved during secularization and came into the possession of the Principality of Nassau-Weilburg. In 1919 the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary established Arnstein as their first monastery in Germany. The Superior and Vice-Provincial of the monastery, Pater Alfons Spix, died in 1942 in the Dachau concentration camp, because he let the Polish forced laborers participate in worship and gave them breakfast.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Obernhof, Germany
See all sites in Obernhof

Details

Founded: 1139
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Hohenstaufen Dynasty (Germany)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Matthias Schranz (30 days ago)
Great monastery in a great location. Peace, nature and history. We were warmly welcomed in the monastery shop and got a great insight into monastery life and the Orthodox Church with very good coffee and cake (for a donation of our own choosing). There is also great homemade jelly and honey. Definitely worth a visit.
Isa Gad (3 months ago)
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the monastery in Arnstein and was deeply impressed by the warm hospitality of the nuns. Your friendliness makes your stay here particularly inviting. The monastery café offers a wonderful selection of coffee, tea and homemade cakes, which are perfect for a short break. Not to be forgotten is the very attractive shop in the monastery, which stocks a variety of things such as specialist literature and jewelry. I was particularly impressed by the many things produced in the monastery, such as honey, teas, jams, creams, etc., as well as the foreign specialties, including sweets from Georgia, olive oil from Greece, etc. A visit here is not only spiritually enriching, but also a great way to discover unique and high quality products.
Marion Späth (3 months ago)
It's worth taking a look here. Coffee and cake are available for a donation. At the moment the church is scaffolded.
Hristina Doroshenko (12 months ago)
A very good place where you can pray and rest your soul quietly and have peace in your soul. I want to come myself.
T T (12 months ago)
Beautiful monastery. Parking spaces directly on site. The cycle path leads directly past the monastery. Great starting point for hiking or cycling. There are always nice events on site.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Jan Hus Memorial

The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.

Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.