Kloster St. Marienberg
Romanesque monastery complex in Helmstedt with a treasury of medieval textiles, open to visitors on a guided tour.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
St. Marienberg Monastery was founded in 1176 or 1181 by Abbot Wolfram as a foundation for Augustinian canonesses, on a hill west of Helmstedt's medieval town walls. In the 15th century the Windesheim Reform reached the house; in 1568/69 the Reformation finally prevailed and the monastery became a Protestant ladies' foundation. Since 1754 the office of Domina has been reserved for the von Veltheim family.
The house enjoyed a new flowering under Charlotte von Veltheim, who became Domina in 1848 and moved into the monastery in 1862. In 1863 she founded the Niedersächsischer Paramentenverein (Lower Saxony vestments association) together with Countess Anna von der Schulenburg; the vestment workshop still produces liturgical textiles today and restores textiles for museums. The site now belongs to the Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz.
On view are the four-winged cloister, the Romanesque monastery church with stained glass from the early 13th century, frescoes and a medieval crucifix, as well as the treasury in the former chapter house. There the famous Marienberg collection of vestments is displayed; its oldest surviving piece dates from 1260.
Highlights
- Romanesque monastery church with stained glass from the early 13th century
- Treasury with medieval textiles (oldest piece from 1260)
- Four-winged cloister
- Vestment workshop
- FrauenOrt "Charlotte von Veltheim" (women's heritage site)
Permanent exhibition
- Schatzkammer mit mittelalterlichen Paramenten – Precious medieval textiles from the monastery are shown in the former chapter house, including the Heininger antependium from the second half of the 13th century.
- Operated by
- Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Public tours and group tours on request are free of charge.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The monastery is close to Helmstedt's city center at Klosterstraße 14; the meeting point for public tours is the church main entrance.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The monastery, church and treasury can be visited with a registered guided tour. Tour requests go to the culture management of the Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz. |
