Museum Kloster Kamp
Treasury of the former Cistercian abbey of Kamp in Kamp-Lintfort, with the Kamp antependium, monastery history and changing exhibitions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Kamp Abbey was founded in 1123 as the first Cistercian monastery in German-speaking lands: Archbishop Friedrich I of Cologne brought monks from Morimond in Burgundy to the Lower Rhine. From here, an extensive network of daughter and granddaughter monasteries developed in Western and Eastern Europe. Unusually for the order, the complex does not lie in a valley but on the Kamp hill.
Under French rule, the abbey was dissolved in 1802. From 1954 to 2002, Carmelites lived in the monastery. Today the association Geistliches und Kulturelles Zentrum Kloster Kamp (Spiritual and Cultural Center Kloster Kamp) uses the site, with the abbey church renewed between 1685 and 1700, the terrace garden, a café and the vaulted cellar, as a place for culture and reflection.
The museum, which the operators also call the Schatzkammer (treasury), was founded in 1987 to document the centuries-long history of the abbey. It stands opposite the monastery church at Abteiplatz and shows original pieces from the abbey's former furnishings. These include the "Kamper Stammbaum" (Kamp family tree), painted in 1728, which shows the branching of the daughter monasteries. The most precious item is the Kamp antependium (altar frontal) from the 14th century, on the upper floor. On the ground floor, temporary exhibitions take place several times a year; since 2017, the house has been part of the RuhrTOPCARD.
Highlights
- Kamp antependium, an altar frontal from the 14th century
- Painting "Kamper Stammbaum" from 1728 showing the daughter and granddaughter monasteries
- Original pieces from the former monastery furnishings of Kamp Abbey
- Pocket-sized museum guide and museum app with a quiz
- Abbey church and terrace garden right next door
Permanent exhibition
- Schatzkammer: Klostergeschichte und Kamper Antependium – Original pieces from the furnishings of Kamp Abbey, including the Kamper Stammbaum from 1728 and, on the upper floor, the Kamp antependium from the 14th century.
- Founded
- 1987
- Operated by
- Geistliches und Kulturelles Zentrum Kloster Kamp e. V.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Groups (10+ people) | €2 per personPer person, from 10 people. |
| Families | €6.50 |
| Monastery guided tour including treasury admission (public, every first Sunday of the month, 11:30) | €9Meeting point at the entrance to the abbey church; no registration needed. |
| Treasury guided tour (museum only, groups) | €6Per person including admission, minimum price €60; duration about 45–60 minutes. |
Holders of the Family Card of the Kreis Wesel (Wesel district) enter free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €6.50 |
|---|
The center describes itself as family-friendly and offers a family rate; holders of the Family Card of the Kreis Wesel enter free. Tours for school classes and youth groups and a quiz in the museum app are available.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
The large "Parkplatz Terrassengarten" car park on Mittelstraße (signposted, access via Rheurdter Straße/B 510) is free; a footpath leads from there to Abteiplatz. Up on the hill, most parking spaces require a parking disc (2 hours free). Bus parking is signposted on Moerser Straße; buses may only let passengers off at Abteiplatz.
There is a free e-bike charging station at the museum entrance; keys are available from the museum ticket desk during opening hours.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Museum shop in the house, with the museum guide (€4). Donation café and monastery shop at the Zentrum Kloster Kamp (Abteiplatz 13): Mon–Fri 13:00–17:00, Sat 14:00–17:00, Sundays and public holidays 11:00–17:00.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours and appointments can only be booked by phone (02842 927540). Offered are the short tour (about 60 minutes, €6 per person), the monastery tour with the treasury (90–120 minutes, €9 per person including admission) and the treasury tour (45–60 minutes, €6 per person including admission); minimum prices of €60 and €90 respectively. Tours are also offered for school classes and youth groups. With the museum app, the treasury can be explored as a quiz guide. |
