Gut Holthausen, Cistercian monastery in Büren, Germany

Gut Holthausen is a monastery in Büren with a two-story quadrangle surrounding a small courtyard that contains a cloister and a church topped by a Baroque roof turret. The buildings show typical Cistercian features with functional spaces organized around the central court.

Founded in 1243 by the lords of Büren as a family monastery, it operated as a Cistercian convent until secularization in 1810. This shift from religious community to secular property ended its original purpose.

The organ of the former convent church was built in 1764 by an unknown organ builder and has seven stops on one manual, including Salicional 8′, Gedackt 8′ and Trompete 8′. The Mixtur and Trompete stops were added later, and the instrument was restored in 2005 with missing pipes replaced. Its side console is original, and it has a rare attached Messerrücken pedal; the organ case is silent.

Gut Holthausen is a privately owned estate inhabited by the Freiherren von Fürstenberg family, so there are no public visiting hours or guided tours; the grounds and buildings are not open to visitors. The former convent church of St. Peter and Paul, with its 1764 organ, belongs to this private complex. Those wishing to see the medieval quadrangle should respect the residential character of the site.

The organ in the former convent church was built in 1764 by an unknown maker and has seven stops on one manual, including a Gedackt 8′ probably original to that year. It was restored in 2005 with missing pipes replaced, and keeps its original side console and a hanging pedal.