St.-Peters-Stift, Imperial monastery on Petersberg in Goslar, Germany
St.-Peters-Stift was an important monastery on Petersberg hill in Goslar, featuring a basilica with three aisles, a westwork, and a distinctive tower at its crossing. The ruins today show the foundation walls spread across roughly 46 meters, revealing the original layout.
The monastery was founded in 1045 by Empress Agnes of Poitou and received imperial privileges from Emperor Henry III, which greatly boosted its standing. It remained an important site until its destruction by Goslar citizens in 1527.
The monastery held significant power in medieval times, with several of its leaders rising to important positions in the church and wider empire. This role made it a major center of religious and political authority in the region.
The site can be explored on foot today, and archaeological excavations since 1871 have exposed the foundation walls that show the original layout. A visit allows you to see these remains while walking around Petersberg hill itself.
The monastery was deliberately destroyed by Goslar citizens in 1527 to prevent it from being used during a conflict with the Duke of Brunswick. This unusual act of destruction was tied to local political tensions of that time.
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