Tholey Abbey

Tholey, Germany

Tholey Abbey is a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Maurice. As early as the 5th and 6th centuries a group of clerics had established themselves here in the Roman ruins. On the instructions of Magnerich, bishop of Trier from 566 to 600, these hermits formed themselves into monastic communities. One of the earliest of such communities, at the foot of the Schaumberg, is said to have had Saint Wendelin as its head, who is thus counted by tradition as the first abbot of Tholey.

The Benedictine history of Tholey is thought to have begun in about 750. At the end of the 15th century the abbey joined the Bursfelde Congregation.

In 1794 during the French Revolution the abbey was plundered and burnt down, and dissolved the same year. In 1798 the remaining buildings were auctioned off. In 1806 they became the property of the municipality, as the parish church and priest's house.

The present abbey was established by the Benedictines in 1949 and settled in 1950 by monks from St. Matthias' Abbey, Trier. The monks work in pastoral care and run the guesthouse and book shop. As of 2020, twelve monks from five nations reside in the monastery.

in 2008, with philanthropic support from Edmund and Ursula Meiser, the chapter house was renovated, and baroque-style pavilion was erected on the grounds of the abbey.

In 2020, the abbey installed stained glass windows created by German artists Gerhard Richter and Mahbuba Maqsoodi. Richter's three windows — with deep reds and blues prevailing on the two outer displays and the central one dominated by radiant gold — are more than 30 feet tall and made to a symmetrical design. Maqsoodi's 34 windows for the church feature figurative images portraying saints and scenes from the Bible.

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Address

Im Kloster 11, Tholey, Germany
See all sites in Tholey

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Hohenstaufen Dynasty (Germany)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Dr. Hagen Reichert (2 months ago)
A wonderful place, full of art and spirituality. Saarland can be truly proud of what has been achieved here, how a gloomy and very outdated abbey church was turned into a shining jewel. Thanks to Father Wendelinus for the patient and extremely knowledgeable guidance.
Corona Perer (6 months ago)
Sacred place in Saarland rich in history: the Benedictine Tholey Abbey, was first founded in 634, is considered the oldest monastery in Germany. Its church dedicated to San Maurizio dates back to the 13th century and is one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in the country. The life of the abbey was profoundly influenced by figures such as Adalgisel Grimo, a Frankish nobleman who left his mark by donating the land for the construction of the church. Tholey was a crossroads of faith and culture.
Werner Knauber (7 months ago)
August 2024 Craziness! The oldest monastery in Germany stands quietly and modestly on Saarland soil and no one notices! The Benedictine abbey was first mentioned in a document in 634! The church is also one of the oldest in Germany - it dates back to the 13th century! It has been wonderfully renovated and has 3 internationally renowned treasures behind the altar: the windows designed by Gerhard Richter! All other windows are also wonderfully redesigned! Worth seeing! And you can't even imagine what kind of hoopla Bayern would have if Tholey/St.Mauritius were them. But that's just how we Saarlanders are: modest and content. And proud! Knowing that we can show many a gem to our visitors! Our friend from Rheydt was very impressed and we always enjoy Tholey! Visit Saarland!
Virginija Guzel (2 years ago)
Beautiful...
Roland Jung (2 years ago)
The Benedictine Abbey of St. Mauritius Tholey is the oldest monastery founded on German soil. The abbey and the monastery garden are absolutely worth seeing. Especially the church windows, designed by Dr. Mahbuba Maqsoodi and Gerhard Richter were incredibly great. The abbey church is stunning.
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