Cloister History
The timetable of Walkenried is telling us that Volkmar von Walkenried processed properties in the south Harz to the Benedictine cloister Huysburg. Adelheid, bride of Volkmar, got parts of his properties as property bond. In 1127, Zisterzienser monks came to Walkenried with their abbot from Altenkampen near the lower Rhine river. 1132 Lothar von Süpplingenburg granted the permission for hunting in the Harz to the monks. He founded the cloister Schulpforte and cloister Sittichenbach in the year 1157. The noble people were aware of the profit generated by the ore mines. Because of that, Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa donated a quarter of the Rammelsberg ore to cloister Walkenried. 1194, Heinrich der Löwe (Duke of Brunswick) fell down the horse during a hunting and was carried to Walkenried where monks took care for his recovery. Also, Emperor Rudolf von Habsburg had contact with the abbots of the cloister. He provided a protection note and disburded them from many obligations. During the civil war which was started by Thomas Münzer, his fellowers destroyed parts of the cloister building. But the envy encouraged even more conflicts, confusion and chaos. 1567 the cloister was given to the hands of Saxony. A catholic time began. Emperor Ferdinand II. provided the cloister 1628 to the monks from Kaisheim until the Swedish army displaced them.
1648 the Reichsstift Walkenried was terminated and went as feud to the property of the dukes of Brunswick.
Today, Harz tourists and historians come to admire the ruins of the former Reichstift and are impressed of the diligence and skills of the monks.
(Karl Helbing sen.)
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