Franziskanerkloster Soest, church
The Franziskanerkloster Soest is a monastery complex with an attached church in the old town, built around 1259. The church displays gothic features with tall columns and wide windows, while the overall structure is made of local stone and maintains the simple medieval design of its era.
The monastery was founded in 1233 at the request of the Archbishop of Cologne and was the first Franciscan house in Westphalia. It remained active for roughly 600 years until its closure in 1814 following secularization, after which the church passed to Protestant ownership in 1851.
The name 'Grey Monastery' comes from the robes worn by the Franciscan monks who made their home here. The buildings and church still reflect the spiritual community that dedicated itself to serving the poor and sick of the city for hundreds of years.
The monastery is located in Soest's old town with narrow streets and historic buildings that are easy to explore on foot. The church is now open to visitors and serves as a venue for services, concerts, and cultural events.
A photograph from 1913 captures the complex with its massive stone walls and the church's pointed roof before World War II bombing damaged the structure. The subsequent restoration in the 1950s makes this site a noteworthy example of how historical buildings can be reconstructed after wartime destruction.
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