Corvey

Corvey is a locality in the town of Höxter, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It lies on the Weser River opposite the town of Höxter and is best known for the Corvey Abbey complex and Schloss Corvey, a hilltop castle associated with the abbey. The site attracts visitors for its medieval heritage and landscape along the Weser.

Corvey Abbey was founded in the early 9th century as a Benedictine monastery. It grew into an influential religious and cultural center, with a notable scriptorium and library that preserved Latin and vernacular texts from the early Middle Ages. At times the abbey enjoyed Imperial immediacy within the Holy Roman Empire, granting the abbots a degree of secular authority and independence from local rulers.

The abbey’s fortunes declined after secularization in the early 19th century, and the monastery was dissolved. The church and many buildings survive as historic monuments, while Schloss Corvey, perched on the hillside above the Weser, remains closely linked with the abbey and operates as a museum and cultural venue. The abbey’s library and manuscript collection, often referred to in discussions of the Corvey archive, are noted for their contribution to medieval scholastic and textual culture.

Today, Corvey is recognized for its historic landscape and medieval heritage. The site is a major regional visitor attraction, with emphasis on early medieval manuscript culture, Carolingian-era architecture, and the Renaissance-era castle complex that anchors the hillside above the Weser.