Ground Plan - Kloster Ilsenburg

The monastery

In the year 2003. the monastery of Ilsenburg could look back onto a thound years of history. The celebrations of this historical 1000 birthday, with guests from and far, is being presented here with photos and in text.

In this chapter,

- the important remaining ruins of the monastery are being explained

- the unusual historical background and development of this benediction monastery is being layed out before the eyes of the reader

- the multitude of excavations and their results, the historical explorations, as well as an overview of literature and historical studies are being presented

- thoughts and ideas of possible utilisations of the remains of the monastery are being presented and discussed

The Chapter House

Today the chapter house is divided into two rooms: when the dividing wall was constructed, the existing pillars with half-columns (known as compound pillars) were simply included as decoration. The monks’ dormitory was on the upper floor. This was directly connected to the church by a special entrance to make it easier to attend services in the night.

The Refectory

The refectory was the monks’ dining hall. A particularly valuable feature here is the abundance of columns and capitals in both wings. The shafts of the twelve columns in the refectory are decorated with lozenges, zigzag stripes or twisted ropes. The capitals are largely covered with palm fans. These are reminiscent of the exemplary columns in the cloister of Königslutter and point to a possible relationship with Lombardy.

The original 12th century plaster floor is still partly in place, missing parts having been added to match the original floor.

The under-floor heating which has now been exposed, particularly under the refectory, shows that Ilsenburg abbey in the height of the Middle Ages was among the technologically advanced and wealthy monasteries.

Refectory

Careful observation in front of the east side of the abbey will reveal ruins in the ground. These are the scant remains of a Lady Chapel. Is the Lady Chapel perhaps also older than the abbey, as in the case of Paulinzella? More excavations will be needed.

The Lady Chapel

Here again what is still recognisable today as the beginnings of the vaults at the east wall of the abbey can give important clues. Like other Lady Chapels of Benedictine monasteries, the first floor of the original 2-storey building probably housed the library and scriptorium.