Wendhusen Convent

The Wendhusen house of canonesses (convent) was founded in around 825 by Countess Gisla, daughter of Hessi (the East Saxon/Franconian nobleman who united with Charlemagne in 775), and reached its moment of greatest importance in the course of the 9th century. During this time, it enjoyed close connections with the Imperial Abbey of Herford, and possessed extensive land property.

Liutbirg, the famous hermitess, was closely associated with the convent and its founding family, and her vita, written in around 880, is thought to be one of the oldest narrative works of northern and central Germany.

In the 10th century, the Liudolfings/Ottonians dominated the convent and connected it with the newly founded Imperial Abbey of Quedlinburg. Most of the land was then given by Otto I to the Diocese of Halberstadt, in exchange for his new residence in Magdeburg.

Shortly after 1100, the convent was reformed into an Augustinian chapter of canonesses. The chapter remained connected to the Imperial Abbey of Quedlinburg, but in the late Middle ages could not regain its former glory. In the 16th century it began to gradually decay.

After its dissolution, it was fully deconsecrated by the Count of Regenstein and given as fief to noble families. The Thale/Wendhausen Manor was passed in turn from the Steuben family to the von Bülow/Wartenbergs, the Hartwigs and finally to the Busche family.

Architectural structures:

From the early Middle Ages (1st half of the 9th century), the remains of the foundations of a single-nave church with a horseshoe apse and a nuns’ gallery (preserved up to a height of 6.30 m).
Faint traces of a reconstruction phase around the year 1000, with a preserved column with a mushroom capital.
In the middle of the 12th century, a block-like western building was erected in front of the Carolingian abbey church. It has been possible to decipher the purpose of its three functional areas, which include rooms for liturgical purposes and evidence of a former scriptorium.
Opening hours:

Wednesday – Sunday from 2pm to 5pm

Admission: Adults € 3.00, children up to 5 years free, and from 6 to 13 years € 1.50

Guided tours on request € 5.00 pp