Asbeck Abbey

In Asbeck, a district of the small municipality of Legden, Bishop Werner von Steußlingen of Münster had an imposing double monastery built between 1132 and 1151. Originally planned for nuns and brothers of the Premonstratensian Order, after a few years it was firmly in the hands of women.

From a nunnery to a convent for women

From 1173, the double monastery became a nunnery before it was converted into a ladies' convent in the 16th century. Asbeck's most famous nun was Therese von Zandt, who belonged to the convent from 1783 until its dissolution. She became famous as the supposed lover of Beethoven. Her two sons also became composers. A separate cabinet is dedicated to her, which is now located in the Hunnenpforte of the former abbey grounds. You can find out more in the video below. The abbey existed until 1805 and then became the property of the Prince of Salm Horstmar.

More highlights at Asbeck Abbey

The Romanesque dormitory is also particularly worth seeing: built around 1200, the building is one of the few examples of Romanesque secular architecture in north-west Germany and is home to the Asbeck Abbey Museum.

Another highlight of the Asbeck programme is the annual Schnadgang: Noble damsels and brave knights set off together with the Asbeck foot soldiers to check the borders. What had a serious background in the days of the noble ladies' convent and the knightly house of Asbeck - border disputes including fisticuffs and shootings - is now used for socialising.