Giessen’s Schiffenberg Castle is a well-known landmark in the community, but few Americans know the history behind the buildings, or the long-running cultural programs offered there. In fact, Schiffenberg Castle was never a castle at all, but a cloister - home to various orders of monks for nearly 800 years.
Giessen’s Schiffenberg Castle is a well-known landmark in the community, but few Americans know the history behind the buildings, or the long-running cultural programs offered there. In fact, Schiffenberg Castle was never a castle at all, but a cloister - home to various orders of monks for nearly 800 years. The cloister was originally established in 1129 by Clementia of Gleiburg; in 1323 the organization of the cloister was changed somewhat and from then until 1809 - nearly five centuries later - Schiffenberg Cloister was home to a German order of monks. Through the centuries, the men who dwelled in Schiffenberg saw many changes, from building renovations and improvements to religious reforms, such as a failed attempt to secularize the order in 1543 as Martin Luther’s Reformation swept Germany. It wasn’t until 1809, however, that the charter of the cloister was cancelled by order of Napoleon Bonaparte. Ownership of the land passed to the state of Hessen, which leased it out until 1972, when the city of Giessen took over management.
Today Schiffenberg is a quiet retreat from the quick pace of life in Giessen’s university-dominated city. Placed just five minutes outside the city proper, Schiffenberg can be reached by car, bus (busline #6), or footpath. The winding path up to Schiffenberg is tree-shaded and calm, with few reminders of civilization beyond the occasional fallen fencepost - walkers are more likely to hear birdsong than cell phones. The walk is not for the faint of heart: It’s a rise of more than 900 feet from the base of the hill to its summit where the cloister is situated. The bus drops visitors off right at the top of the hill, however, across from a parking lot for drivers.
Visitors are greeted by sweeping vistas across a long, green lawn outside the cloister walls. A graveled path leads to the main gate, a small double arch opening into a broad courtyard. Upon entering, walk to the right to see the basilica, the oldest part of the structure, originally commissioned in the early twelfth century. An arching arcade, open to the air, leads visitors toward the restaurant and gallery now housed in the cloister. The restaurant features open-air dining in the warmer months. Another summertime offering is the music series on weekends. Open-air concerts offer every type of music from classical to jazz, and the concerts are usually free.
If you’re looking for a place to escape the present, Schiffenberg Cloister gives visitors a beautiful, peaceful retreat. Set high over Giessen, these ancient buildings remind us of a quiet way of life, now lost, and offer a peek into the distant past. Schiffenberg reconciles past and future with its lively combination of music and dining, all the while allowing us to wander among the shadows of the past.
Address:
Domäne Schiffenberg
35394 Giessen
Hours:
M Closed
Tu-F 2:30-11 p.m.
Sa, Su 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
How to get there
From central USAG Hessen, take A5 north towards Giessen and then A45 and then A485 as if going towards the Giessen Depot. From A485, take exit 6 towards Hausen. You will find yourself on Schiffenberger Weg road heading towards Hausen. Watch carefully for the first left turn after about a quarter of a mile from A485. Take this road, Beundeweg, to the Schiffenberg Castle. When traveling from Giessen to the castle, simply travel south on A485 and take exit 6.
Last update : 31-01-2008 15:53
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