Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch

Geschichte

The Abbey of Lorsch is a former Imperial abbey in Lorsch, Germany, about 10 km east of Worms. It was one of the most renowned monasteries of the Carolingian Empire. Even in its ruined state, its remains are among the most important pre-Romanesque–Carolingian style buildings in Germany. Its chronicle, entered in the Lorscher Codex compiled in the 1170s is a fundamental document for early medieval German history. Another famous document from the monastic library is the Codex Aureus of Lorsch. In 1991 the ruined abbey was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Historic namesThe following historical names have been recorded: In the 9th century: Lorishaim 9th and 11th centuries: Loresham 9th–10th centuries: Laurishaim 10th century: Laresham 10th–12th centuries: Lareshaeim and Lauresheim 11th–12th centuries: Lauresham 11th century: Larsem, Loraszam, Lorozam, Lorisham 12th century: Laurisca, Laurisham, Laureshan, Loressam, Lorisheym, Lorscheim, LorsHistoryFoundingThe abbey was founded in 764 by the Frankish Count Cancor and his widowed mother Williswinda as a proprietary church (Eigenkirche) and monastery on their estate, Laurissa. It was dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The founders entrusted its government to Cancor's nephew Chrodegang, Archbishop of Metz, who became its first abbot. The pious founders enriched the new abbey by further donations. To make the abbey popular as a shrine and a place of pilgrimage, Chrodegang obtained from Pope Paul I the body of Saint Nazarius, martyred at Rome with three companions under Diocletian.

"Wenige Jahre nach der Gründung der frühen Abtei Altenmünster imJahr 764 wurde auf einer benachbarten eiszeitlichen Flugsanddüne eineneue Klosteranlage errichtet. Karl der Große, dem die Abtei übertragenworden war, erhob sie zu einem seiner wichtigsten Reichsklöster. Bei derWeihe der Klosterkirche 774 war Karl persönlich mit Familie und Hofstaatanwesend. Drei Bauten der ehemals großen Anlage sind verblieben: einFragment der Nazarius-Basilika, ein Abschnitt der Klostermauer und dieberühmte Königshalle. Durch die Neugestaltung des Welterbes KlosterLorsch im Jahr 2014 sind beide Klosterareale – die frühe und die spätereKlostergründung – erstmals landschaftsarchitektonisch miteinanderverbunden."